SC unanimously rules that President's gazette to dissolve Parliament was illegal

The Supreme Court today announced that the President's decision to dissolve Parliament was illegal.

Delivering the final verdict, it was announced that the seven member judge bench had unanimously agreed that the President could not dissolve the Parliament before a period of four and a half years.

The final verdict further noted that if the President wanted to dissolve Parliament before a period of four and a half years, a resolution must be passed with a 2/3rd majority in Parliament.

Twelve FR petitions were filed on November 12 against the President's parliament dissolution gazette by several political parties including the United National Front, Tamil National Alliance, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, SLMC, and Elections Commissioner Ratnajeevan Hoole.

The case was initially heard before a three-member judge bench headed by Chief Justice (CJ) Nalin Perera.

However, following a motion filed by the SLPP calling for a fuller bench to hear the case, a seven-member judge bench comprising CJ Nalin Perera, Justices Prasanna Jayawardena, Priyantha Jayawardena, Buwaneka Aluvihare, Vijith Mallegoda, Sisira de Abrew and Murdhu Fernando was appointed to hear the case.

The Supreme Court hearing of the petitions concluded on December 07 following which it was announced that the verdict would be delivered on a future date.