COLOMBO – July 24, 2024 – The Supreme Court has issued an interim order suspending the implementation of a circular issued by the President’s Secretary to establish community advisory committees for government development projects during the election period. The order was made in response to a fundamental rights petition filed by the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL).
The petition was heard by a Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Vijith Malalgoda, Yasanta Kodagoda, and Kumuduni Wickramasinghe. The petitioners argued that the circular would allow the misuse of public resources to promote activities favorable to candidates in the local government elections.
PAFFREL’s petition highlighted that the Chairman of the Election Commission had previously sent a letter to the President’s Secretary on May 7, advising government agencies and their heads to ensure that public resources are not used to support election candidates. The Election Commission had also issued a circular to this effect.
The petition named 41 respondents, including the Prime Minister, the Cabinet, the President’s Secretary, the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, the Election Commission, and the Attorney General. The petitioners emphasized that many candidates for the local government elections were already members of provincial community committees, making the misuse of public resources likely.
In light of these concerns, the petition requested the Supreme Court to order the Secretary to the President and the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance to adhere to the Election Commission’s circular. The court’s interim order prevents the establishment of the community advisory committees as proposed by the President’s circular, pending further hearings on the matter.
