COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s top court found President Ranil Wickremesinghe guilty of “unlawful conduct” on Thursday for indefinitely delaying local polls seen as an unofficial referendum on his handling of the economy.

Since Wickremesinghe enjoys immunity while in office, the judgement carries no immediate legal consequences, but the state of the economy is expected to be a key issue for voters in presidential elections next month.

Because the March 2023 local polls were postponed, the Sept 21 presidential election will now be the first vote since Wickremesinghe took over two years ago. He took office after protesters furious at an unprecedented financial crisis toppled strongman president Gotabaya Rajapaksa in July 2022.

Wickremesinghe, 75, is seeking re-election for a five-year term next month, and faces a daunting challenge from rival candidates. A five-judge bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya on Thursday unanimously held that Wickremesinghe failed to release money to conduct the local government elections in March 2023.

Wickremesinghe’s administration said the money in state coffers was needed to pay public servants and pensions, despite a previous court order to finance the vote. The court said Wickremesinghe’s “arbitrary and unlawful conduct” in preventing the local polls had resulted in the infringement of constitutional rights.

Addressing his supporters just outside Colombo on Thursday, Wickremesinghe said he was “not sorry” for postponing the local council elections last year while the economy was still struggling.

Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2024

Opinion

Editorial

Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...
Islamabad protest
Updated 20 Nov, 2024

Islamabad protest

As Nov 24 draws nearer, both the PTI and the Islamabad administration must remain wary and keep within the limits of reason and the law.
PIA uncertainty
20 Nov, 2024

PIA uncertainty

THE failed attempt to privatise the national flag carrier late last month has led to a fierce debate around the...
T20 disappointment
20 Nov, 2024

T20 disappointment

AFTER experiencing the historic high of the One-day International series triumph against Australia, Pakistan came...