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| Sunday, 15 February 2004 |
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Politics |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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LG elections in Ampara to be postponed by P. Krishnaswamy Local government elections to the Kalmunai MC and the Pradeshiya Sabhas of Ninthavur, Sammanthurai, Addalaichchenai, Akkaraipattu and Pottuvil in the Ampara coastal district fixed for February 21 are likely to be postponed for a further date, according to sources of the Elections Department. This is consequent to an application filed in the Supreme Court on behalf of about 11,000 young voters, claiming that arrangements already made by the Commissioner of Elections to hold the elections on the basis of the 2000 electoral registers would forfeit their right to vote and, therefore, is a violation of their fundamental rights. The applicants have demanded that elections be held on the basis of the 2002 electoral registers. The Supreme Court has issued orders on Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake and his Returning Officer for Ampara to appear before the Court on Tuesday, February 17, to explain whether or not it would be possible to hold the elections on February 21 on the basis of the 2002 electoral registers. Due to the very short time available it would not be possible to print fresh ballot cards and distribute them before the date fixed for the elections, the sources said, adding that it was likely that the elections would be postponed for a further date. A three member Supreme Court bench, chaired by Chief Justice Sarath N. de Silva, which last week heard the fundamental rights application filed on behalf of adolescent voters held that elections to the local government bodies of the district should be conducted on the basis of the 2002 electoral registers. The SC also held that holding elections on the basis of 2000 electoral registers would be a violation of the fundamental rights of the nearly 11,000 adolescent voters. Wijedasa Rajapakse PC together with attorneys-at-law M.R. Abul Kalam and Kapila Liyanagamage appeared for the petitioners. |
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