Court Dismisses Petitions Against Secret Ballots in Seethawaka Councils

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Court of Appeal today (14) dismissed petitions that sought interim orders to prevent secret ballots from being held to elect Chairpersons and Vice-Chairpersons of several local government bodies, including the Seethawaka Urban Council and Seethawaka Pradeshiya Sabha.

The petitions, filed by a group of opposition councillors, argued that the decision by the Western Province Commissioner of Local Government to conduct secret ballots was unlawful, especially in councils where the opposition claimed majority control.

The bench, comprising Court of Appeal President Justice Rohantha Abeysooriya and Justice Priyantha Fernando, ruled that the petitions lacked sufficient legal grounds to proceed and therefore dismissed them.

The petitioners had named Western Province Commissioner Sarangika Jayasundara and several others as respondents, alleging that a meeting held on the 17th to initiate the election process was improperly convened. They claimed that the decision to proceed with secret ballots was met with protest, leading to a walkout by several councillors and the postponement of the election due to lack of quorum.

They argued that the move to hold secret ballots violated procedural norms and sought a court order to halt the process.

The petitioners were represented by President’s Counsel Ali Sabry and Attorney-at-Law Chandima Weerakkody.