June 09, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court has determined that the proposed amendments to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act can largely proceed through Parliament with the support of a simple majority, while identifying several provisions that require a higher threshold for approval.
Announcing the Court’s determination in Parliament on Monday, Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne said a handful of clauses were found to necessitate a special majority under constitutional requirements. These include Clause 14 and the proposed Sections 12A and 12B, as well as Clause 18 and the proposed Sections 17A, 17B and 17C.
However, the Court noted that the same provisions could be enacted with an ordinary majority if the amendments recommended during the judicial review process are incorporated into the Bill before it is taken up for a vote.
The legislation, aimed at strengthening Sri Lanka’s legal framework against financial crimes and illicit transactions, was referred to the Supreme Court after petitions were filed challenging its constitutionality under Article 121(1) of the Constitution.