Supreme Court Considers Petitions Against 19th Amendment

Supreme Court will take up all petitions filed against the 19th Amendment to the Constitution on Wednesday (01).

A three member bench was appointed to consider these petitions, headed by Chief Justice K. Sri Pavan. Other members of the bench are Justice Chandra Ekanayake and Justice Priyasath Dep.

More than 15 petitions were filed on the 19 th Amendment based on several grounds. Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) on Tuesday filed a petition against the 19th Amendment to the Constitution arguing that the Amendment warranted a referendum. Meanwhile, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna argued in another petition that a referendum is not required.

Attorney-at-Law Gomin Dayasri was one of the first to submit a petition against the 19th Amendment. He argued that amendments to the 70th, 33rd and the 14th statutes contravene the constitution. The Amendment to the 33 rd statute reduces the president to a figurehead, he argued. Meanwhile the amendment to statute 14 is an infringement of fundamental rights, Dayasiri stated.

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya leader Udaya Gammanpila was also among the first to petition against the 19th Amendment.