SC thwarts bid to restore lapsed local bodies

… determines 2/3 majority and referendum needed for Bills to become law

By Saman Indrajith

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena told Parliament yesterday that the government would abide by the Supreme Court determination on the three Bills, titled ‘Pradeshiya Sabha (Amendment), Urban Councils (Amendment) and Municipal Councils (Amendment)’ which had to be passed by a special majority in Parliament, and approved by the people at a referendum.

The Prime Minister said that they were private member Bills and not those sponsored by the government.

The PM said so when Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella demanded to know whether it would proceed with those Bills and asked whether the government thinks that it could muster two-third of votes from the House, and the people’s approval at a referendum.

The Chief Opposition Whip raised this question after Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena announced that the Supreme Court had determined that it was necessary to have a special majority of votes in the House and public approval, at a referendum, for those three Bills to be passed.

The speaker informed Parliament of the determination of the Supreme Court in respect of the three Bills titled “Pradeshiya Sabha (Amendment), “Urban Councils (Amendment)” and “Municipal Councils (Amendment)” which were challenged in the Supreme Court in terms of Article 121(1) of the Constitution.

The Speaker said that the Supreme Court had determined that Clause 2 of all these three Bills is inconsistent with Articles 1, 12(1), 82, 83 and 104B of the Constitution and, therefore, it is necessary to pass these Bills, titled “Pradeshiya Sabha (Amendment), “Urban Councils (Amendment)” and “Municipal Councils (Amendment),” by a special majority in Parliament, and approved by the People, at a Referendum, by virtue of the provisions of Article 83 of the Constitution.