Amendments to reconvene dissolved LG bodies inconsistent with Constitution - SC

The Supreme Court has determined that the three Bills titled “Pradeshiya Sabha (Amendment), “Urban Councils (Amendment)” and “Municipal Councils (Amendment)” are inconsistent with the Constitution, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena informed Parliament this morning. 

Accordingly, the Bills would require a special Parliamentary majority and the approval of the people at a referendum. 

The Bills aimed to reconvene dissolved local government bodies without holding elections. They were presented as Private Members' Bills by Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Jayantha Ketagoda. 

The three Bills were challenged in the Supreme Court in terms of Article 121(1) of the Constitution. 

Accordingly, the Supreme Court has determined that Clause 2 of all these three Bills is inconsistent with Articles 1, 12(1), 82, 83 and 104B of the Constitution and therefore, it is necessary to pass these Bills titled “Pradeshiya Sabha (Amendment), “Urban Councils (Amendment)” and “Municipal Councils (Amendment)” by a special majority in Parliament and approved by the People at a Referendum by virtue of the provisions of Article 83 of the Constitution, announced the Speaker.