The Supreme Court has determined that the Sri Lanka Electricity Bill is inconsistent with the Constitution and can only be passed by a special majority in Parliament, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena announced today.
“The Bill titled ‘Sri Lanka Electricity’ was challenged in the Supreme Court in terms of Article 121/1 of the Constitution. The Bill as a whole is inconsistent with Article 12 (1) of the Constitution and shall only be passed by the Special Majority of Parliament required under Article 84 (2),” the Speaker said, reading the determination of the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court has also stated that the inconsistency could be resolved if the Bill is amended according to the proposals outlined in its summary of the determination, the Speaker said.
Last week, party leaders decided to hold the second reading debate on the Electricity Bill, with the Committee on Parliamentary Business, chaired by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, deciding to hold the debate on Thursday, June 6.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and several other MPs, including Wimal Weerawansa and Dayasiri Jayasekara, requested more time for the debate to be taken up in the House. (Newswire)