Supreme Court takes up FR petitions for the 5th day

COLOMBO (News 1st): The petitions against the dissolution of Parliament and the General Elections is being taken up for the 5th day. The case proceedings commenced at 10:00 am on Friday. During Thursday's (May 21st) case proceedings, President's Counsel Romesh De Silva questioned the court as to how the inability of the elections commission to hold the general election can invalidate the proclamation issued by the President dissolving parliament. A mere change in the dates of the election mentioned in the proclamation by the president does not render the document null and void, submitted President's Counsel Romesh De Silva in court on Thursday. PC De Silva pointed out that the attorneys representing the petitioners failed to consider the Parliamentary Elections Act which was promulgated by parliament according to Article 101 of the constitution, and sets out the procedure to elect representatives to the legislature. He further stressed that Section 24(3) of the Parliamentary elections act does not impose a limit on the duration for which the elections commission can postpone elections.