A petition has been submitted to the Court of Appeal seeking an interim injunction against Western Provincial Council Commissioner Sarangika Jayasundara, aiming to prevent the holding of a secret ballot to elect the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Seethawaka Pradeshiya Sabha.
The petition was filed by a group of opposition members representing the Seethawaka Pradeshiya Sabha, who allege that the opposition currently holds the majority within the council.
Named as respondents in the petition are Western Provincial Council Commissioner Sarangika Jayasundara and several others.
According to the petition, despite the opposition’s majority, a meeting was convened on the 17th under the chairmanship of Commissioner Jayasundara to proceed with the election of the council’s Chairman and Vice-Chairman.
The petitioners claim that during this meeting, the Western Local Government Commissioner decided to conduct the election through a secret ballot. In response, 24 council members staged a walkout in protest, resulting in a lack of quorum and the postponement of the election.
The petitioners argue that the decision to proceed with a secret ballot is unlawful and request the Court to issue an order preventing the implementation of such a procedure.
