The Supreme Court has scheduled September 30 to hear a fundamental rights petition filed by former Minister Rajitha Senaratne, seeking a recount of preferential votes obtained by New Democratic Front (NDF) candidates in the Kalutara District during the last General Election.
A three-judge bench, comprising Justices Preethi Padman Surasena, Janak de Silva, and Sampath Abeykoon, took up the petition today and set the hearing date.
The petition names the Election Commission, its chairman and members, the Kalutara District Returning Officer, Rohitha Abeygunawardena—who was elected as an MP from the NDF in the said election—and the Attorney General as respondents.
Senaratne claims irregularities in the vote counting process cost him a parliamentary seat. He states that the difference in preferential votes between him and the elected MP is about 119 votes and argues that the final result was affected by these alleged irregularities.
The petitioner seeks a Supreme Court ruling declaring his fundamental rights were violated and an order for a recount and revised results.
Attorney-at-Law Keerthi Tilakaratne and President’s Counsel Faiz Mustapha appeared for Senaratne. (NewsWire)
