EPDP polls petition for Aug. 5

By Chitra Weerarathne
The election petition filed by the EPDP, complaining of intimidation of EPDP electors by the LTTE, in the Batticaloa district was called before the Court of Appeal on Monday and fixed for support on August 5, 2004.

The petitioners who are members of the EPDP had said that the election was not free and fair.

The LTTE had supported the campaign of the Tamil National Alliance by threatening EPDP supporters. The polling agents of the EPDP were chased away from the polling booths by the LTTE, the petition said.

The EPDP had requested the Court to quash the declared results of the Batticaloa district, which were consequential to the poll of April 2, 2004.

The petition had alleged that the returning officer for the Batticaloa district has been made a party in a litigation.

The Court of Appeal Bench comprised Justice Saleem Marsoof (President) and Justice Sripavan.