July 08, Colombo: A Sri Lankan court is to hear a petition filed against the early dissolution of the Eastern provincial Council on the 20th of this month.

The Court of Appeal is to commence hearing the petition on the 20th, a day after the nominations to the three provincial councils including the Eastern Provincial Council conclude.

The case would be heard by a Court of Appeal Bench comprising Justices Sisira De Abrew, A.W.A. Salam and Anil Goonaratne.

Petitioner K.K.P Rangana Amarasinghe has cited Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, Governor Mohan Wijewickrama, Council Ministers M.S. Subair, T. Navaratnarajah, Meera Saibu Uthuma Lebbe and Wimalaweera Dissanayake as respondents.

The petition states that the dissolution of the Eastern provincial Council was premature and that it should be dissolved in May 2013 according to the constitution.

The petition has therefore sought an interim order to prevent the dissolution of the council.

A provincial council term is five years and the Eastern Provincial Council held the last elections in May 2008.