Highlighting concerns about the Sri Lankan Supreme Court’s recent ruling on the ‘Gender Equality’ Bill, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has proposed the appointment of a select committee to review the judgment.
The Supreme Court ruled that the Bill is inconsistent with Article 12 of the Constitution, a decision President Ranil Wickremesinghe described as “judicial cannibalism.”
“The Supreme Court has ignored a certain section that the Gender Equality Bill addresses. It has eaten up all the judgments including one which had been given by a bench of ten judges with regard to women’s rights. It has engaged in judicial cannibalism,” President Wickremesinghe said addressing Parliament, adding that the top court had also ignored an amendment to the penal code by the Chief Justice.
The Gender Equality Bill aims to legalize equal opportunities for all, regardless of sex or gender identity, in Sri Lanka.
“I don’t propose to summon judges before Parliament, but I suggest appointing a majority of members from the Parliamentary Women’s Caucus to the select committee,” Wickremesinghe told Parliament, raising a privilege issue. He emphasized that the House could not agree with the Supreme Court’s ruling.
However, MP Wimal Weerawansa opposed the move, stating, “Challenging the determinations of the Supreme Court is not a healthy move.
“Why should we have a Supreme Court if we are going to challenge it every time?” Weerawansa questioned. (Newswire)
