Nathan v. Chandrananda De Silva Commissioner of Elections and Others – sllr 1994 volume 2 page 209

In the case between Nathan (petitioner, candidate for the electoral district of Wanni) and Chandrananda De Silva, Commissioner of Elections, and others (respondents), the court addressed whether compliance with Rule 14 of the 4th Schedule to the Parliamentary Elections Act No. 1 of 1981, requiring service of notice of the election petition within ten days, was mandatory or directory. It was held that non-compliance with Rule 14 is fatal to the petition, reaffirming the principle that strict adherence to procedural rules governing election petitions is necessary to maintain the integrity of the electoral process. This decision relied on binding precedents, including Nanayakkara v. Kiriella and Aron v. Senanayake, emphasizing that failure to serve notice as prescribed cannot be excused, and