20th amendment needs approval at referendum: Supreme Court

Sep 19, 2017 (LBO) – The majority of the Supreme Court has determined that certain clauses of the 20th amendment to the constitution is inconsistent with the current constitution, Speaker informed Parliament on Tuesday.









Speaker Karu Jayasuriya informing the determination of the Supreme Court said clauses 2, 3 and 4 of the bill is inconsistent with the article 4, 12.1 and 14.1 of the constitution. Accordingly, under article 83, the bill becomes law only it receives two thirds majority of votes at the Parliament as well as approval by people at an island wide referendum.









The bill titled 20th amendment to the constitution challenged in the Supreme Court in terms of article 121.1 of the constitution. Meanwhile, the UNP Parliamentary group has decided not to take up the debate of the draft bill in Parliament tomorrow.









The bill seeks to hold election for all nine provincial councils on a single date.