Cardinal appears for defendants in case against bill to amend Holidays Act

Colombo Archbishop His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith appeared at the Supreme Court as an intervening party for the defendant in a case filed against the bill to amend the Holidays Act.

Parliamentarian Wijedasa Rajapaksa had submitted a bill seeking Parliament approval to ban private tuition classes on Sundays and on Poya days. However, two individuals including a private tutor had filed petitions challenging the bill at the Supreme Court.

They had named the Attorney General as a respondent to the petition.

During today's hearing, the Cardinal told court that it would be a disgrace for the education sector if tuition classes are conducted at the expense of affecting religious education.

On the contrary, the petitioners argued that school students would be affected if they are not granted an opportunity to gain additional knowledge on the subjects taught at school.

Accordingly, the petitioners requested court to declare Sections 3, 4, and 2(1) of the bill, as clauses in violation of the constitution. They also said that the bill could be passed only with a majority in parliament along with a public vote.