Some 20A articles inconsistent with constitution

Several articles in 20A inconsistent with constitution; SC determination

by Zulfick Farzan 20-10-2020 | 10:40 AM

Colombo (News 1st); The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka in its determination on the 20th Amendment to the Constitution stated certain clauses in 20A are inconsistent with The Constitution Of The Democratic Socialist Republic Of Sri Lanka.

Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena announced the Supreme Court's position on the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, to Parliament on Tuesday (20).

"Clauses (03) (05) (04) & (22) in their present form are inconsistent with Article (03) read with Article (04) of the constitution and therefore require approval by the people at a referendum by virtue of the provisions of Article (83)," said the Speaker.

In the determination read to Parliament, the Supreme Court called for a referendum to obtain public approval for those clauses or for changes to be made to those clauses.

"However, such inconsistency in clauses (03) & (14) would ease by amending in accordance with the proposed committee stage amendments and inconsistency in clause (05) would cease, if clause (05) is suitably amended as specified in the determination," stated the Speaker while reading out the Supreme Court determination.

The Supreme Court on 05th October concluded considering the petitions filed against the 20th Amendment to the Constitution and communicated its decision to the Speaker of Parliament.

Several petitions were filed before the Supreme Court against the 20th Amendment to the Constitution.

A five-judge bench of the Supreme Court chaired by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya was appointed to consider the petitions.