Colombo, Aug 23: Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court has ruled that President Ranil Wickremesinghe engaged in “arbitrary and unlawful” conduct by postponing local government elections initially scheduled for early 2023. The verdict comes as Wickremesinghe campaigns for re-election in the upcoming presidential race on September 21.

Wickremesinghe, who assumed the presidency in July 2022 following President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s resignation amid mass protests over a severe financial crisis, faced scrutiny for delaying the local elections. The elections, which were postponed from March and April 2023, were deferred due to claims of financial constraints, with the administration citing the need to prioritize economic recovery.

The postponement drew criticism from opposition politicians and rights groups, who filed Fundamental Rights petitions challenging the government’s actions. They argued that the delay violated constitutional rights and was a tactic to avoid electoral accountability amid widespread economic hardship.

The Supreme Court’s five-member bench, led by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, has directed the Election Commission to hold the local government elections “at the earliest possible date.” The court has also held the executive branch accountable for infringing upon citizens’ fundamental rights.

As Wickremesinghe pushes for a mandate to continue his economic reforms, he faces strong competition from opposition leaders Sajith Premadasa and Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who have been critical of his administration’s policies.