Five-member judge bench to hear FR petitions against elections date

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The Supreme Court has appointed a five-member Judge Bench to hear the multiple Fundamental Rights (FR) petitions filed challenging the date set by Elections Commission to hold the General Election 2020.

Accordingly, Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya will serve as the Chairman of the Bench. Justices Buwaneka Aluvihare, Sisira de Abrew, Priyantha Jayawardena, and Vijith Malalgoda make up the remaining slots of the Bench.

Seven parties including Attorney at Law Charitha Gunaratne, Center for Policy Alternatives (CPA), and Journalist Victor Ivan, Samagi Jana Balawegaya filed Fundamental Rights petitions challenging the election date set by the Elections Commission.

The Attorney General, on behalf of the President, Chairman of the Election Commission Mahinda Deshapriya, and Members of the Commission N. J. Abeysekara and Ratnajeevan Hoole have been named as respondents of the petition.

The petitions were fixed for support on the 18th and 19th of May.