Special Majority & Referendum: SC delivers determination on three Private Members Bills

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka had determined that Private Members Bills titled “Municipal Councils (Amendment) Act”, “Urban Councils (Amendment) Act” and “Pradeshiya Sabha (Amendment) Act” should be passed by a special majority and a referendum.

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on Tuesday (8) announced the determination on Parliament.

The supreme court had determined that Clause 2 of these three bills are inconsistent with articles 1 (12) (1), 82, 83, and 104 (b) of the constitution, and thereafter 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, said the Speaker.

The “Municipal Councils (Amendment) Act”, “Urban Councils (Amendment) Act” and “Pradeshiya Sabha (Amendment) Act” were presented to Parliament/ placed on the Order Paper of Parliament on 05th July 2023 as Private Members Bills.

The Private Members Bills were moved by MP Jayantha Ketagoda.