Sri Lanka’s highest court, the Supreme Court, has delivered a verdict against President Ranil Wickremesinghe, finding him guilty of “unlawful conduct” for indefinitely delaying local elections. These elections were widely viewed as an unofficial referendum on his handling of the country’s severe economic crisis. The court’s ruling, while significant, carries no immediate legal consequences as Wickremesinghe enjoys immunity from prosecution while in office. However, the verdict comes at a crucial juncture as Sri Lankans prepare to vote in presidential elections next month. The economy’s state is expected to be a major deciding factor for voters.
The March 2023 local polls, initially scheduled to take place, were postponed by Wickremesinghe’s administration. This postponement effectively means that the September 21 presidential election will be the first nationwide vote since Wickremesinghe assumed office two years ago. He took over after massive public protests forced the resignation of his predecessor, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, amid the country’s worst economic crisis in its history.
Now, as Wickremesinghe seeks re-election for a five-year term, he faces a difficult path, confronting challenges from rival candidates. The Supreme Court’s decision stems from Wickremesinghe’s administration’s refusal to release funds necessary for the local elections, despite a prior court order. The government argued that the funds were crucial for paying public servants and pensions, but the court deemed this action as “arbitrary and unlawful conduct” that violated constitutional rights.
In response to the court’s ruling, Wickremesinghe, speaking to supporters outside Colombo, expressed no regret for delaying the local elections, stating that the time was crucial for addressing the economic crisis. He emphasized his commitment to safeguarding both the right to vote and the right to life.
While the court has ordered the independent election commission to hold the local elections as soon as possible, it has emphasized the need to avoid disrupting the upcoming presidential vote. The court has also instructed the government to pay the legal fees incurred by the petitioners who challenged the postponement.
Wickremesinghe’s path to power began in July 2022, when he was elected by parliament as interim president after Rajapaksa’s resignation. He subsequently secured a $2.9 billion bailout loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in March 2023, a crucial step in addressing the economic crisis. However, the bailout came with stringent conditions, including doubled income taxes, the removal of energy subsidies, and price increases.
The postponed local elections were widely seen as a gauge of public opinion on these austerity measures, which were necessary to secure the IMF bailout. Opposition lawmakers accused Wickremesinghe of using the economic crisis as a pretext to undermine democracy. The Supreme Court’s verdict, while not having immediate legal repercussions, underscores the significant political implications surrounding the upcoming presidential election and the state of Sri Lanka’s economy.
