Supreme Court issues interim order to stay the operation of the gazette until December 07

The Supreme Court has issued an interim order staying the operation of the gazette issued by President Sirisena disolving Parliament  until December 07, 2018.

The verdict was announced when the case was taken up before a 3-member judge bench headed by Chief Justice Nalin Perera at the Supreme Court today (Nov 13).

The three-member judge bench announced that objections can be filed on or before November 19 while the next series of hearings will be taken up between December 4 - 6.

The 2-day hearing commenced yesterday when 12 fundamental rights petitions were filed against the President's gazette to dissolve Parliament which was issued on Friday (Nov 09).

Attorney General Jayantha Jayasuriya who made his submission today requested court to dismiss all petitions against the dissolution of Parliament citing that the President’s move was constitutional.

He also argued that Article 33 (2) C which stated that the President had the power to summon, prorogue and dissolve Parliament, is an unambiguous provision. He further added that Article 33 must be read as operating in isolation of Article 70 (1).

AG Jayasuriya also said that the President has been vested with plenary executive power.

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