Election Commission clarifies reports on legality of Samagi Jana Balawegaya

The National Election Commission has clarified that the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has been established under the necessary legal provisions.

In a letter addressed to the General Secretary of the SJB Ranjith Madumma Bandara, Chairman of the Commission Mahinda Deshapriya made the clarification with regard to the inquiries made over recent media reports claiming that the acceptance of the new office bearers of the SJB is unlawful.

Deshapriya said the Election Commission had accepted the change in the name of the recognized political party “Samagi Jana Balawegaya” and the appointment of new office bearers on 02 March 2020, before the dissolution of Parliament.

The National Election Commission does not admit the perception that said acceptance was erroneous in law.

The Supreme Court has dismissed without granting leave to proceed with the Fundamental Rights (FR) petition filed challenging the said decision of the Election Commission, he explained.

Mahinda Deshapriya further clarified that representatives from the ‘Ape Jathika Peramuna’, a recognized political party, had met with officials from the Election Commission on 05 February 2020, to submit details relevant to the change of the name of the party to read as “Samagi Jana Balawegaya” and to the change of its prominent office bearers.

The Election Commission after having considered those submissions had informed the party that the proposed changes could be accepted if the documents submitted were in compliance with the constitution of the party concerned.

Accordingly, the office of the Secretary to the Commission had scrutinized the documents and had issued a letter from the Commission on 10 February 2020 informing that the said changes were accepted, Mahinda Deshapriya added. (Newswire)

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