The government had to give priority to save the citizens affected by the economic crisis when allocating funds rather than holding the Local Government polls, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena informed the Supreme Court through his lawyer yesterday (7).
President’s Counsel Faisz Musthapa appearing for the Prime Minister stated this during the hearing of four Fundamental Rights petitions filed challenging the postponement of the LG election which was scheduled to be held on March 9, 2023.
The petitions were heard before a Five-Judge Bench consisting of Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, PC and Justices Vijith K.Malalgoda, PC, Murdu Fernando, PC, Gamini Amarasekara and Yasantha Kodagoda, PC for the third consecutive day yesterday.
Musthapa, PC pointed out that the country needed Rs.357 billion for essential expenditures by January 2023, but it was even difficult to obtain loans due to the situation that existed in the country by that time. Therefore, the government had to prioritize the essential services including the health services, public servants’ salaries, Samurdhi allowances and pension payments with available funds.He also said when the matter of allocating funds for essential services was debated in Parliament, NPP MP Dr.Harini Amarasuriya was also present, but she did not speak anything relating to the election then.
According to him, the Commissioner General of Elections was directly accountable to Parliament over the conducting and the expenditures of the election. However, he has not made any request to Parliament regarding election expenditures. Considering all these facts, the President’s Counsel requested the Supreme Court to dismiss the petitions. Accordingly, the further hearing of the petitions was postponed by the five-judge bench yesterday. These petitions have been filed by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, National People’s Power, the PAFFREL and the Centre for Policy Alternatives. The petitioners have named 35 parties including the Finance Ministry Secretary, the Attorney General, Government Printer, IGP, the Elections Commission and the Prime Minister as respondents.
Nelka Medagedara