The Supreme Court has deferred until March 11 the hearing of a writ petition filed by a retired Army colonel, W.M.R. Wijesundara, seeking an order to postpone the local government polls 2023.
The postponement was made to allow petitioners to study and make submissions with regard to an affidavit filed by the Treasury secretary on the current financial situation.
A SC bench comprising justices S. Thurairaja, A.H.M.D. Nawaz and Shiran Gunaratne took up the case yesterday (23).
Additional solicitor general Nerin Pulle said the Ministry of Finance has provided the basic funds for the election - an initial Rs. 30 million and then Rs.70 million to the Election Commission, Rs. 25 million to the police and Rs. 40 million to the Government Press.
He said that he has been advised that it is not possible at present to provide any more funds for the election.
Chairman of the bench Thurairaja said that there are only minimum opportunities for the court to intervene in financial issues.
The SC also took up a motion filed by the Election Commission against its not being provided with adequate funding to hold the LG polls.
