Sri Lanka‘s top court has found President Ranil Wickremesinghe guilty of “unlawful conduct” for delaying local elections, which were seen as an unofficial referendum on his economic policies. According to AFP news agency, the verdict was delivered by a five-judge bench led by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya. It does not carry immediate legal consequences due to Wickremesinghe’s immunity while in office.However, it places a spotlight on the state of the economy ahead of next month’s presidential election.
The March 2023 local polls were postponed, making the September 21 presidential election the first opportunity for voters to weigh in on Wickremesinghe’s administration since he assumed office. Wickremesinghe, who took over after the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa amid widespread protests over a severe economic crisis, is seeking re-election for a five-year term.
The Supreme Court ruled that Wickremesinghe failed to allocate funds for the local elections, which was previously mandated by court order. His administration argued that the funds were necessary for public servants and pensions. The court criticised Wickremesinghe’s “arbitrary and unlawful conduct,” which it said violated constitutional rights.
In response, Wickremesinghe defended the postponement of the local elections, saying he was “not sorry” for the delay, as it was necessary to address the economic challenges and ensure the right to life. He promised to protect both the right to vote and live.
The court has ordered the independent election commission to conduct the local polls as soon as possible, ensuring they do not interfere with the upcoming presidential vote. The state has also been directed to cover the legal fees of the petitioners who challenged the postponement.
Wickremesinghe, who was elected interim president by lawmakers in July 2022 following Rajapaksa’s resignation, secured a $2.9 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in March 2023. This followed significant measures, including tax hikes and energy price increases. The postponed local election was widely regarded as a referendum on these severe measures.
The March 2023 local polls were postponed, making the September 21 presidential election the first opportunity for voters to weigh in on Wickremesinghe’s administration since he assumed office. Wickremesinghe, who took over after the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa amid widespread protests over a severe economic crisis, is seeking re-election for a five-year term.
The Supreme Court ruled that Wickremesinghe failed to allocate funds for the local elections, which was previously mandated by court order. His administration argued that the funds were necessary for public servants and pensions. The court criticised Wickremesinghe’s “arbitrary and unlawful conduct,” which it said violated constitutional rights.
In response, Wickremesinghe defended the postponement of the local elections, saying he was “not sorry” for the delay, as it was necessary to address the economic challenges and ensure the right to life. He promised to protect both the right to vote and live.
The court has ordered the independent election commission to conduct the local polls as soon as possible, ensuring they do not interfere with the upcoming presidential vote. The state has also been directed to cover the legal fees of the petitioners who challenged the postponement.
Wickremesinghe, who was elected interim president by lawmakers in July 2022 following Rajapaksa’s resignation, secured a $2.9 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in March 2023. This followed significant measures, including tax hikes and energy price increases. The postponed local election was widely regarded as a referendum on these severe measures.