PAFFREL to challenge 20A in SC

The only way to pass the Amendment is to get the consent through a public referendum. Otherwise, the Amendment is a violation to the Constitution

Local election watchdog PAFFREL yesterday said that it would go to the Supreme Court on Monday against the 20th Amendment to the Constitution.

It said the Amendment which was tabled in Parliament cannot be approved by the mere majority in Parliament as the Amendment had violated the Article Nos. 3,4,10,12 and 14 of the Constitution.

“The only way to pass the Amendment is to get the consent through a public referendum. Otherwise, the Amendment is a violation to the Constitution. If the government is attempting to shy away from holding elections, we will not hesitate to seek the assistance of the judiciary,” PAFFREL Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi told a news conference organised by a number of election observers in Colombo.

He said if the government is genuinely concerned about holding all Local Government (LG) and/or Provincial Council (PC) elections on the same day, it could bring in laws which would come into effect in the future elections. Meanwhile, he said if the 20A was not passed within two weeks, the election would unlikely to be held this year.

Addressing the news briefing, CAFFE Executive Director Keerthi Tennakoon said he hoped the Draft 20A would remain defeated at PCS. He also said if the leftist and Northern MPS, including Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan had voted for the 20A, they would be branded as ‘traitors’ by the Sri Lankan public.