The Court of Appeal today ordered the acceptance of 35 more nominations for the Local Government Elections, which were previously rejected.

Accordingly, the relevant Returning Officers have been ordered to accept the nominations. 

Last week, the Court of Appeal ordered the acceptance of 37 nominations for the Local Government Elections that had been previously rejected.

The orders are being issued as the Court of Appeal delivers its verdicts regarding petitions that were filed on the rejection of nominations for the 2025 Local Government Elections. (Newswire)

The post LG polls : Court orders acceptance of 35 more rejected nominations appeared first on Newswire.

The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has dismissed over 50 petitions filed challenging the rejection of nomination papers for the 2025 Local Government Elections.

The court today dismissed 53 writ applications and 06 Fundamental Rights (FR) petitions that were filed by political parties.

This comes in the backdrop of the Court of Appeal having ordered the acceptance of 37 nominations for the Local Government Elections that had been previously rejected.

The court today ordered the relevant returning officers to accept the said rejected nominations. 

The order was issued when the Court of Appeal today delivered its verdict regarding the petitions that were filed on the rejection of nominations for the 2025 Local Government Elections. 

Petitions were filed by recognized political parties and independent groups challenging the rejection of their nominations on the grounds of not submitting certified copies of birth certificates, not formally submitting an oath, and only submitting photocopies of birth certificates. (Newswire)

The post LG polls : SC dismisses over 50 petitions on rejected nominations appeared first on Newswire.

The Court of Appeal has issued an order suspending all election activities related to Local Government Bodies against which petitions have been filed over the rejection of nominations.

Accordingly, the Court of Appeal has suspended election activities for the said Local Government Bodies until tomorrow, 02 April 2025.

It is reported that the court order has been issued after taking up for consideration multiple petitions that have been filed by candidates and independent groups on the rejection of nominations. 

In December last year, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to amend the Local Government Act to allow fresh nominations to be called for the Local Government Election. 

Accordingly, Cabinet approval was granted to cancel the nominations for the Local Government Election that was scheduled to be held in 2023.

The proposal to call fresh nominations was made due to some who had previously submitted nominations having passed away, and some either leaving the country or changing parties. 

However, the decision was challenged in court. (Newswire)

The post Nominations rejected : 24 hour stay order appeared first on Newswire.

The acceptance of nominations for the Mannar, Poonakary, and Dehiattakandiya Pradeshiya Sabha Elections will commence today. 

According to the National Election Commission, the acceptance of nominations will conclude at 12.00 noon on 27 March 2025.

Meanwhile, the placing of deposits by candidates will end at 12.00 noon on 26 March 2025.

The Election Commission states there was a delay in beginning the acceptance of nominations for the three Pradeshiya Sabhas due to a court order. (Newswire)

The post Acceptance of nominations for 3 Pradeshiya Sabhas begins appeared first on Newswire.

The nominations from 690 recognised political parties and independent groups were accepted nationwide for the 2024 General Election, the National Election Commission announced.

According to the Election Commission, 74 nomination papers were rejected due to various reasons. 

Meanwhile, the nominations of a total of 46 contestants have been approved to contest the Parliamentary Election from the Colombo District.

The returning officer in charge of the Colombo District Prasanna Janaka Kumara said the nominations of 28 recognized political parties and 22 independent groups were accepted. 

Addressing the media, he further said that among the nominations, three independent groups and one recognised political party were rejected due to various reasons.

The acceptance of nominations for the 2024 General Election concluded at 12.00 PM today, The Parliamentary Election is scheduled for 14 November 2024. (Newswire)

The post 74 election nominations rejected appeared first on Newswire.

The acceptance of nominations for the 2024 General Election has concluded, the National Election Commission announced.

The Election Commission said any objections can be filed in this regard until 1.30 pm today.

The acceptance of nominations for the 2024 Parliamentary Election commenced on 04 October and concluded at 12.00 pm today.

The Parliamentary Election is scheduled to be held on 14 November 2024. (Newswire)

The post Parliament Election : Acceptance of nominations concludes appeared first on Newswire.

The acceptance of nominations for the 2024 Parliamentary Election commenced today. 

Chairman of the National Election Commission R.M.A.L. Rathnayake states that the Commission has taken all necessary measures in this regard.

He further said that the acceptance of nominations which commenced today will continue until midnight on 11 October 2024.

Rathnayake went on to note that no incidents related to the General Election have been reported so far.

The 2024 Parliamentary Election is scheduled to be held on 14 November 2024. (Newswire)

The post Acceptance of nominations for 2024 General Election commences appeared first on Newswire.

A total of 39 candidates have submitted nominations so far for the 2024 Presidential Election, the National Election Commission announced. 

Leader of the Mawbima Janatha Party (MJP) Dilith Jayaweera, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) candidate Namal Rajapaksa, United National Party (UNP) Leader and President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa, Sri Lanka Freedom party (SLFP) candidate Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, National Peoples’ Power (NPP) Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Tamil Common Candidate P. Ariyanethran were among the candidates who handed in their nominations. 

The acceptance of nominations commenced at 09.00 am today at the National Election Commission and concluded at 11.00 am.

Following the acceptance of nominations, the filing of objections will commence at 11.30 am, after which the Election Commission will announce the eligible candidates. (Newswire)

The post Presidential nominations conclude : 39 candidates hand in nominations appeared first on Newswire.

Special security and traffic plans are underway today in view of the acceptance of nominations at the National Election Commission for the 2024 Presidential Election. 

The Police state special traffic and security plans are underway from 08.00 am to 02.00 pm in the vicinity of the Election Commission.

The traffic plan will cover the Polduwa, Borella, Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, Rajagiriya, Thalawathugoda, and Welikada areas. 

Nearly 1000 Police and Police STF personnel have been deployed for security and traffic duties during this period. 

The special traffic plan is as follows: 

The post Presidential Election nominations : Special security & traffic plans today appeared first on Newswire.

The acceptance of nominations for the Presidential Election 2024 has commenced at the National Election Commission. 

Several candidates contesting the Presidential Polls are currently at the Election Commission to hand in their nominations. 

The accepting of nomination papers commenced at 09.00 am and the Election Commission will provide a period to file objections after 11.00 am, after which it will announce the candidates eligible to contest. 

The post Presidential Election 2024 : Acceptance of nominations begins (Live Video) appeared first on Newswire.

Several candidates contesting the 2024 Presidential Election have signed nomination papers this week. 

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) candidate and former Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe signed the nomination paper this morning.

The signing took place at his residence in Nawala amidst religious observances.

The Leader of the Mawbima Janatha Party (MJP), entrepreneur Dilith Jayaweera also signed his nomination papers to contest the upcoming Presidential Election. 

The signing took place at the Mawbima Janatha Party’s office in Borella today. 

On Monday, National People’s Power (NPP) Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake signed his nomination papers to contest the upcoming Presidential Election.

The Member of Parliament placed his signature at the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Office in Pelawatte. (Newswire)

The post Presidential Election : Several candidates sign nomination papers appeared first on Newswire.

The Sri Lanka Police has announced that a special traffic plan will be implemented on Thursday in view of the acceptance of nominations at the National Election Commission for the upcoming presidential elections. 

The Police state special traffic and security plans will be underway from 08.00 am to 02.00 pm on Thursday (Aug 15).

Acting Police Spokesman DIG Ruwan Gunasekera said the traffic plan will cover the Polduwa, Borella, Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, Rajagiriya, Thalawathugoda, and Welikada areas. 

He further said that nearly 1000 Police and Police STF personnel will be deployed for security and traffic duties during this period. 

The special traffic plan is as follows: 

The post Presidential Election nominations : Special traffic plan on Thursday appeared first on Newswire.

The Ministerial Consultative Committee has unanimously consented to cancelling the nominations submitted for the Local Government Elections.

According to a Parliament statement, the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils & Local Government has unanimously consented to cancel the nominations given that those who have submitted nominations have faced great difficulties due to the postponement of the elections.

The unanimous consent was given at the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils & Local Government held yesterday (Sep 20) in Parliament Chaired by Prime Minister and Minister of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government, Dinesh Gunawardena.

A discussion was held regarding the obstacles faced by the field officials to run for elections in their electorate and the current status regarding the amendment to the relevant Act to remove such obstacles. The officials present stated that according to the instructions received by the Attorney General, if an amendment is required to revert a legislation to its former state, a 2/3 majority and a referendum is required for the said purpose.

Furthermore, a progress review regarding systematizing the transferring of Secretaries to the Provincial Councils, and the transferring of Divisional Secretaries as mentioned in the service constitution was discussed at the Ministerial Consultative Committee meeting.

Attention was also drawn to the fact that provincial council government officials are not placed with due diligence. Accordingly, the Prime Minister also emphasized that the transfers of all administrative officers including divisional secretaries should be done properly.

Given that there is no new decision on making new recruitments to the public service at the moment, and since there are vacancies in the provincial and overall public service, considering the already existing employees who have passed the Management Service officer to grade III limited competitive examination to fill the existing vacancies was also discussed at the Committee meeting.

State Ministers including Janaka Wakkumbura, Ashoka Priyantha, the Leader of the Opposition MP Sajith Premadasa, Members of Parliament and officials representing the respective institutions and departments were present before the Ministerial Consultative Committee. (NewsWire)

The post Cancelling nominations of local council elections: Parliament committee consents appeared first on Newswire.