Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court on Thursday has found President Ranil Wickremesinghe guilty of “unlawful conduct” for indefinitely delaying local polls initially set for March 2023.
The five-judge bench, led by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, ruled unanimously that Wickremesinghe’s failure to release funds for the elections violated constitutional rights.
Although Wickremesinghe enjoys immunity while in office, the ruling carries no immediate legal consequences.
However, with the presidential election set for September 21, the economy is expected to be a key issue.
Wickremesinghe is seeking re-election for a five-year term but faces strong opposition.
The court determined that Wickremesinghe’s “arbitrary and unlawful conduct” in preventing the local polls was unjustified, despite the government’s argument that state funds were needed for public salaries and pensions.
The ruling ordered the election commission to hold the postponed polls as soon as possible without disrupting the upcoming presidential election.
Addressing supporters near Colombo on Thursday, Wickremesinghe defended his actions, stating, “Not sorry because the time was spent ensuring the right to life and committed to protecting both the right to vote and live.”
Despite securing a $2.9 billion IMF bailout earlier this year through unpopular austerity measures, Wickremesinghe remains a divisive figure, with critics accusing him of undermining democracy during the economic crisis.
The court also ordered the state to cover the legal fees of four petitioners who challenged the postponement.