Former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva stated that there were no legal provisions to remove a party General Secretary during an election.

 

Speaking at the final UPFA rally at Kurunegala, he said that the political parties are given a time frame in which they inform the Elections Commissioner if they are contesting the election. The parties also inform the names of the General Secretaries to the Elections Commissioner.

 

Thereafter, the EC interacts only with the General Secretary with regard to the election.

 

Only the Supreme Court can order the Elections Commissioner during an election period, Silva said. Therefore, an order of a lesser court does not have a legal binding as far as the Elections Commissioner is concerned, he argued.

 

Therefore, as far as the Elections Commissioner is concerned, the General Secretaries of the parties remain the same, he argued further.

 

Sarath N. Silva further stated that it is contrary to tradition to remove the party General Secretary without informing them.