Nelka Medagedera

Three petitions have been submitted to the Supreme Court pleading that an order be made to go for a referendum after passing the proposed 19th Amendment to the Constitution with a two third majority in Parliament.

The petitions have been filed before the Supreme Court by Udaya Gammanpila on behalf of the Secretary General of the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya, Gomin Dayasiri PC and Liyana Pathiranage Ivan Perera.

The petitioner Gomin Dayasiri stated in his petition that the article 70(1) of the proposed 19th Amendment draft to the Constitution has increased the time period from one year to four years. This violates the right of the people to exercise their franchise.

Articles 33(a) of the proposed Amendment to the Constitution has reduced powers of the Executive President. Artcle 14 (1) a, has reduced the powers of the government. This article violates the Fundamental Rights of the People, the Petitioner stated.

Petition submitted against the 19th Amendment to the Constitution by Western Province Provincial Councillor Udaya Gammanpila has pointed out that the article 1 to 54 are contrary to the Constitution of Sri Lanka.

L. P. Ivan Perera in his petition has observed that the Article 2 of the proposed 19th Amendment to the Constitution is contrary to the Article 10 of the Constitution.

The petitioner has pleaded the court to decide that in order to make this draft Bill to be an Act, it should be passed by a 2/3 majority in Parliament and by the people at a referendum.

Courtesy:Daily News