Sri Lanka Supreme Court extends interim order on Parliament dissolution

Dec 07, 2018 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's Supreme Court has extended a suspension of a contested dissolution of parliament in the island by another day. The Court said that the extension will be till Saturday (tomorrow) and will allow further hearings scheduled today. Earlier, a three-judge bench headed by the Chief Justice, Nalin Perera granted interim relief by issuing a stay order on the dissolution of parliament ordered by President Maithripala Sirisena on November 9. Later the Chief Justice revamped bench and now comprise the Chief Justice, Buwaneka Aluwihare, Sisira J de Abrew, Priyantha Jayawardena, Prasanna S. Jayawardena, Vijith Kumara Malalgoda, and Murdu Fernando for hear petitions filed against the dissolution of Parliament. Through these petitions filed, petitioners say that the right to franchise of voters of Sri Lanka has been affected by the sudden dissolution of Parliament. The petitioners cited the Attorney General, Chairman and the members of the Election Commission, Secretary to the President, Prime Minister and several others as respondents.