SC stops polls to 2 PS in north

The Supreme Court (SC) yesterday issued an order postponing the elections scheduled to be held tomorrow at two Pradeshiya Sabhas in the north.
The elections for the Puthukudiyiruppu and Maritimepattu Pradeshiya Sabhas in the Mullaitivu District were to take place today.
However a fresh petition had been filed against it and the SC issued a stay order till 27 March, the Department of Elections said.
Elections to elect 4,327 members for 322 of the 335 local authorities in Sri Lanka were held in March 2011, July 2011 and October 2011 respectively. Of the remaining 13 Pradeshiya Sabhas, 11 had already had their elections in 2008 or 2009.
Elections in Puthukudiyiruppu and Maritimepattu Pradeshiya Sabhas were postponed in 2011 subsequent to an injunction order by the Court of Appeal after it considered a petition filed by two refugees residing at the Menik Farm in Vavuniya.
The petitioners alleged that demining and resettlement in these two Pradeshiya Sabhas had not been completed and as a result, voters will be unable to use their franchise under these circumstances. Furthermore, these two areas were listed as uncleared areas by the Elections Department at that point.
As the previous government was able to hold elections in Puthukudiyiruppu and Maritimepattu to elect members for the Northern Provincial Council and for the 2015 Presidential Election, it was deemed relevant that the Pradeshiya Sabha – local government election to be held as early as possible. This was enabled by the withdrawal of the applications by the petitioners on 28 January. (Colombo Gazette)