File photograph: Wikipedia
Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court has unanimously dismissed a petition challenging the president Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s decision to reconvene parliament.
Rajapaksa had dissolved parliament, with hopes of holding a general election to build on his party’s popularity after his electoral victory in presidential polls last year. However, the coronavirus pandemic has led to the elections being delayed.
Opposition parties had filed eight Fundamental Rights petitions challenging Rajapaksa’s move and calling for parliament to be reconvened during the pandemic. The five judge bench dismissed them all.
The move will now allow Sri Lanka’s Elections Commission to set a date for parliamentary polls.
More to follow.
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