(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) – The 20th Amendment to the Constitution is due to be tabled in Parliament tomorrow for the first reading.
The Minister of Justice, Ali Sabry, PC is scheduled to present the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, Bill to amend the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in parliament Tuesday (22) for debate and passage.
Thereafter, any citizen has the opportunity to file a petition against it in Supreme Court within seven days, the Parliamentary Secretariat said.
Also, if any party challenges the 20th Amendment within the relevant period, the Supreme Court must submit its decision within 21 days from the date of filing the petition.
Several key clauses in the 19th Amendment have been repealed in the 20th Amendment giving more power to the President. The draft 20th Amendment proposes to restore full legal immunity to the President, removing the provisions made in the 19th amendment to take legal action against the President.
According to the Attorney general, the bill needs only a two-third majority to be passed in parliament.
