SC concludes hearings into petitions on 20A Bill

• SC concludes four days of sittings with AG making final submissions 
• Determination will go to Speaker & President 

The Supreme Court yesterday concluded the hearing of the petitions related to the 20th Amendment to the Constitution Bill. 

The determination of the SC will be sent to the Speaker and the President.

The SC bench is headed by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya P.C. Its other members are Justices Buwaneka Aluwihare, P.C, Sisira de Abrew, Justice Priyantha Jayawardena P.C, and Vijith Malalgoda P.C.

Attorney General (AG) Dappula de Livera wound up submissions yesterday. He said arguments against the 20A bill were a misconstruction of its contents, and that the amendments would not harm judicial independence nor reduce powers of the judiciary. 

He also argued that protecting the immunity of the President will enable him to carryout out his duties freely without any restrictions.

Under the proposed 20A the President was to be given the power to dissolve Parliament one year after elections are held, but the AG informed courts that during the Committee stage amendments will be moved to increase this to two and a half years.

De Livera said that the power for the President to dissolve Parliament two and half years after elections helps to protect the sovereignty of the people, as fresh elections can be called for if the system is not operating in a satisfactory manner.

Under the 19th Amendment the President could dissolve Parliament only after four and a half years.