A Fundamental Rights (FR) petition has been filed at the Supreme Court challenging the appointment of United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and Ape Jana Bala Paksaya member Venerable Athuraliye Ratana Thera as members of Parliament.
The FR Petition was filed by the General Secretary of the Vinivida Peramuna Nagananda Kodituwakku today.
The petitioner has pointed out that as per the Constitution, National List nominations must be presented to the National Election Commission within one week from the notice received by the Party Secretaries from the Commission.
He said the General Secretaries of the UNP and the Ape Jana Bala Paksaya had failed to comply with the notices served on them by the former Election Commission Chairman within the mandatory period specified in the Constitution.
Nagananda Kodituwakkufurther said they have failed to fill the two National List MP slots allocated for their respective political parties by the Election Commission.
The Election Commission, former Chairman of the Election Commission Mahinda Deshapriya, Election Commission Chairman Nimal G. Punchihewa, UNP former General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, Ape Jana Bala Paksaya General Secretary Ven. Wedinigama Wimalatissa and several others have been cited as respondents in the petition. (NewsWire)