SIRIMAVO BANDARANAIKE v. RANASINGHE PREMADASA AND CHANDANANDA DE SILVA

• Jurisdiction: Sri Lanka
• Citation: 1992 (2) SLR 1
• Date: 01 September 1992
• Court: Supreme Court (Sri Lanka)
• Case Number: 1992SLR2V1

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SIRIMAVO BANDARANAIKE
v.
RANASINGHE PREMADASA AND
CHANDANANDA DE SILVA

SUPREME COURT
G. P S. DE SILVA, C.J.
P. RAMANATHAN, J.
S. B. GOONEWARDENE, J.
P R. P PERERA, J. AND
A. S. WIJETUNGA, J.

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

PETITION NO. 1 OF 1989
19 JUNE 1989 TO 30 JUNE 1992

Presidential Election Petition - General intimidation - Non-compliance with provisions of the Presidential Elections Act No. 15 of 1981 - Failure to conduct a free and fair election in accordance with the provisions of the Presidential Elections Act - Presidential Elections Act No. 15 of 1981 as. 91 (a), 91 (b) - interpretation of s. 91 (a) - Burden of proof - ss. 101, 102 Evidence Ordinance.

The election to the office of President of Sri Lanka was held on 19 December 1988. There were three candidates namely Sirimavo R. D. Bandaranaike (Petitioner) of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), Ranasinghe Premadasa (1st respondent) of the United National Party (UNP) and Oswin Abeygunasekera of the Sri Lanka Mahajana Party (SLMP). The petitioner received 2289860 or 44.95% of the votes, the 1st respondent 2569199 or 50.43% of the votes and Abeygunasekera 235719 or 4.63% of the votes. The first respondent won by a Majority of 279339 votes. Of the eligible voters 55.32% voted. The 2nd respondent as Commissioner of Elections declared the 1st respondent elected to the office of President of Sri Lanka.

The petitioner by petition filed on 09 January 1989 challenged the election of the 1st respondent on the following grounds.

1. By reason of general intimidation the majority of electors were or may have been prevented from electing the candidate whom they preferred under section 91 (a) of the Presidential Elections Act No. 15 of 1981 (hereinafter referred to as the Act).

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2. By reason of non-compliance with the provisions of the Act relating to elections, the election was not conducted in accordance with the principles laid down in such provisions and such non-compliance affected the result of the election under s. 91 (b) of the Act.

3. By reason of "other circumstances" to wit, the failure of the Commissioner of Elections (2nd respondent) and/or certain members of his staff to conduct a free and fair election, in accordance with the provisions of the Act as set out more particularly in paragraph 9 read with paragraph 8 of the petition, the majority of the electors were or may have been prevented from electing the candidate whom they preferred under section 91 (a) of the Act.

The petitioner called 546 witnesses, the 1st respondent 399 witnesses and the 2nd respondent 32 witnesses.

The pivotal question in this case turns on the correct interpretation of section 91 (a) of the Presidential Elections Act which reads as follows:

"The election of a candidate to the office of President shall be declared to be void on an election petition on any of the following grounds which may be proved to the satisfaction of the Supreme Court namely:

(a) that by reason of general bribery, general treating, or general intimidation, or other misconduct, or other circumstances, whether similar to those before enumerated or not, the majority of electors were or may have been prevented from electing the candidate whom they preferred".

This Court in its preliminary order (reported at (1989) 1 Sri LR 420, 261, 270) held that mere proof of the several instances or acts of general intimidation would not suffice to avoid an election. In addition, the petitioner has to prove that these several acts or instances had the result or consequence that the majority of electors were or may have been prevented from electing the candidate whom they preferred. On the basis of instances or acts of general intimidation established by evidence, the Court may draw a reasonable inference therefrom that the majority of electors may have been prevented from electing the candidate of their choice. In a case of general intimidation, the question that arises is - from the proved acts of intimidation of electors is it reasonable to suppose that the result of the election may have been affected? This is the true meaning of the words `the majority of the electors may have been prevented from electing the

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candidate they preferred. But it will be open to the returned candidate to show that the gross intimidation could not possibly have affected the result of the election. Proof of widespread violence directed towards preventing electors from voting was not enough. There was the requirement of proof of an additional and distinct ingredient of the charge that the majority of the electors may have been prevented from electing the candidate whom they preferred.

The petitioner's case was one of preventive intimidation and not coercive intimidation.

In the expression "were or may have been prevented" there is a significant difference between the words "were" and " may have been". The term may was designedly used because mathematical proof that the majority of electors were in fact prevented, in many a case is impossible of attainment. The burden to prove that the majority of electors were in fact prevented is difficult and it is almost impossible to produce the requisite proof.

Held

(1) (a) The preliminary order made by the Court is binding on the Court. No gloss or deviation from the order is permissible. Further trial proceeded on the basis of the interpretation placed by Court on s. 91 (a) in the preliminary order.

(b) Proof of widespread violence directed towards preventing electors from voting is not enough. Proof is necessary also of the additional ingredient that the general intimidation had the effect that the majority of voters were or may have been prevented from electing the candidate whom they preferred.

(2) In so far as a charge under s. 91 (b) is concerned a Court must reach a finding as to whether the non-compliance affected the result of the election. The Court then must consider the question whether the petitioner would have succeeded but for the non-compliance.

Per G. P S. de Silva, C.J. "for that purpose evidence of party affiliations would be relevant and admissible, notwithstanding the secrecy provisions would it then be reasonable to say that the secrecy provisions do not apply to sec. 91 (b) and they apply to sec. 91 (a). We think not."

(3) The evidence of group leaders regarding party affiliations is permissible as a mode of proof that the voters were prevented from electing the candidate of

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their choice and will not offend the secrecy provisions. The Court may address its mind to the pattern of voter behaviour.

(4) On a careful consideration of the totality of the evidence relating to the charge of general intimidation, it appears that the thrust of the J.V.P. violence was directed against the U.N.P. Between the period 17.09.88 and 19.12.88 (16.09.88 being the date on which the Working Committee of the U.N.P. chose the 1st respondent as the candidate) as many as 413 organisers, office-bearers and supporters of the U.N.P. were killed, and 237 were attacked. The acts of violence against the U.N.P. were spread throughout 80 polling divisions in 15 electorate districts, whereas the anti-S.L.F.P. incidents occurred in 23 polling divisions in 13 electoral districts. Further the incidents against the U.N.P. were spread over a longer period of time. Numerous threats, killings and attacks on local party organisers and office-bearers of the U.N.P. branches at the village level resulted in a serious and irreparable setback to the organization and the campaign of the 1st respondent. In addition there were resignations from U.N.P. branches by office-bearers and even ordinary members consequent upon threats conveyed by letters. Besides, there were threats directed at office-bearers and members of the J.S.S. and large numbers were compelled to resign. The J.S.S. actively supported the U.N.P. at previous electrons. It is natural that all this would have had a strong adverse effect on supporters of the 1st respondent at the Presidential election. The oral and documentary evidence establishes that the weight of the J.V.P. intimidation and violence was directed at the U.N.P. and its supporters and this has contributed in no small measure to the low voter turn-out on 19.12.88 (election day.)

(5) The burden of proof however slight it may be is on the petitioner that the acts or instances of intimidation had the requisite effect, namely, that the majority of electors were or may have been prevented from electing the candidate whom they preferred. The petitioner has not succeeded in establishing that the result of the election may have been affected.

Accordingly the charge of "General...