Both parties asked to make written submissions

The fifteen petitions for special determination challenging 11 Bills presented in a hurry to Parliament to give legal effect to certain proposals in the Budget were heard before a Bench comprising Chief Justice Mohan Pieris, Justices Eva Wanasundara and Sathiya Hettige on Thursday and Friday, and the Supreme Court directed both parties to provide written submissions by March 27 (Wednesday).

The petitions filed challenged certain clauses of Bills which authorise the Minister to introduce certain regulations which then will take away the legislative powers of Parliament and centralise the power to make decisions in one individual.

The petitioners sought from the Court that certain clauses are inconsistent and in contravention of the provisions of the Constitution and cannot be enacted into law unless they are approved by the people at a referendum in addition to a two-thirds majority of the whole number of the members of Parliament.

The intervenient petitioner Joint Apparel Association in its application seeks to intervene in this application in the public interest.

The intervenient petitioner states that the petitioners’ application is inimical to the best interests of the country and therefore the petitioners’ application should be dismissed

Attorneys J.C. Weliamuna, Viran Corea, Ronald Perera PC and Suren Fernando appeared for the petitioners.

Deputy Solicitor General Indika Demuni de Silva with Farzana Jameel,DSG, Nerin Pulle DSG and Arjun Obeysekara DSG appeared for the State.

Sanjeewa Jayawardena PC with Rajiv Amarasuriya instructed by Sudath Perera Associates appeared for the intervenient petitioner.

The order of the Supreme Court will be delivered to the Speaker of the House.