20A to the Constitution Bill to Parliament on Tuesday

• Bill to be presented to House by Justice Minister
• Can be challenged before SC for its constitutionality within 7 days
• Likely to be taken up for debate in mid-October ahead of November Budget

 By Chandani Kirinde

Minister of Justice Ali Sabry will present the 20th Amendment (20A) to the Constitution Bill to Parliament on Tuesday.

The bill, which was published in the Government Gazette on 2 September, has been included in the Order Paper of Parliament for 22 September, when the House will next meet. Within a week of the bill being tabled in the House, the Constitution provides for interested parties to invoke the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court to determine whether any bill or any of its provisions are inconsistent with the Constitution. 

If the bill is not challenged in the SC, it can be taken up for debate after seven days.

Cabinet Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said Wednesday that the bill can be challenged in Court if any party wants to do so, and it can be discussed at the Committee Stage before being put to vote in Parliament.

He said that the Government is keen to make the process a transparent and democratic one and is listening to different opinions.

Government sources said the bill is likely to be taken up for debate in mid-October, ahead of the November Budget.

The 20A will replace the 19th Amendment (19A) to the Constitution, which was enacted in May 2015, and will restore the powers of the Executive, which were scaled down by 19A.

A few features, such as the two-term limit on the Presidency, will remain, and the five-year term limit on both the President and Parliament will also be retained.