The Supreme Court yesterday concluded arguments on the constitutionality of the ‘Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill,’ following four Special Determination petitions filed in opposition to it.
The court’s final determination on the Bill will be communicated to the President and the Speaker in due course. The Three-Judge bench presiding over the case comprised Justices Yasantha Kodagoda, Janak de Silva, and Arjuna Obeyesekere.
The Bill, tabled in Parliament, seeks to facilitate fresh nominations and elections for specific local authorities where elections were previously called and subsequently postponed.
Petitioners, including Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) General Secretary Nizam Kariapper, PC, argued that the Bill infringes on citizens’ voting rights, thus violating fundamental rights. They further contended that certain provisions of the Bill necessitate approval by a special majority in Parliament and ratification through a referendum.
