The Court of Appeal yesterday (May 12) directed the Election Commissioner to accept 47 nominations that were rejected for the local government polls.

The decision was given after the political parties and the independent groups had filed a petition against the decision to reject some of the nominations.

Elections officials were ordered to accept 34 nominations of the UPFA, four from the UNP and nine nominations of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and independent parties.
The Court of Appeal in a writ order suspended the decision taken by the Elections Commissioner and the Returning Officers with regard to 47 nomination papers.

The Elections Department was ordered to accept UPFA nominations papers for all local government bodies in the Jaffna and Kilinochchi districts, Chilaw Urban Council and 15 Pradeshiya Sabhas. UNP nomination papers for Embilipitiya, Elahera, Warakapola, and Baddegama would be accepted by the Elections Department officials in conformity with this judgment.

SLMC nomination papers for the Akurana, Mawathagama and Minuwangoda Pradeshiya Sabhas and the nomination papers presented by the Janasetha Peramuna for the Kaduwela Urban Council would also be accepted by the Elections Department officials in accordance with the Court of Appeal order.

The petition filed by the UNP against the rejection of its nomination paper for the Homagama Pradeshiya Sabha was dismissed by the Court of Appeal.

The petitions filed by the aggrieved political parties and independent groups against the rejection of nomination papers for the Weligepola, Attanagalle, Hingurakgoda, Kegalle, Karaitivu, Thirikkovil, Kuchchiveli, Mahawathgama, Katugastota, Agalawatte, Elpitiya, Giribawa and Ruwanwella local government institutions were dismissed by Court.