News
Speaker announces S C determination on 20A
By Saman Indrajith
The Supreme Court had determined that the Bill titled ‘Twentieth Amendment to the Constitution’ could pass in Parliament with a two-thirds majority without going for a referendum provided that the inconsistencies in four clauses therein were amended, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena announced in Parliament, yesterday (20).
Making the announcement, the Speaker said: “I wish to announce that I have received the determination of the Supreme Court in respect of the Bill titled ‘Twentieth Amendment to the Constitution’ which has been challenged in the Supreme Court in terms of Article 121 (1) of the Constitution.
“The Supreme Court has determined as follows: the Bill complies with the provisions of the Article 82 (1) of the Constitution; requires to be passed by a special majority specified in Article 82 (5) of the Constitution; Clauses 3, 5, 14 and 22 in their present form are inconsistent with the Article 3 read with Article 4 of the Constitution and therefore require approval by the people at a referendum by virtue of the provisions of Article 83.
“However, such inconsistency in Clauses 3 and 14 would cease by amending in accordance with the proposed committee state amendments and the inconsistency in Clause 5 would cease if Clause 5 is suitably amended as specified in the determination.
“I order that the determination of the Supreme Court be printed in the official report of today’s proceedings.”
Chief Opposition Whip Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella: The Supreme Court has approved some amendments. Will the MPs get those amendments?
Speaker: Yes, they should have already been provided to you.
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers has been granted at their meeting held on 19.05.2025 in order to introduce amendments to the Inland Revenue Act No. 24 of 2017 including the proposed tax revisions to enhance the tax structure paving way for state financial integrity based on revenue.
Accordingly, the revised draft bill has been prepared by the legal draftsman and clearance of the Attorney General has been received.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval for
the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Policy Planning and Economic Development to publish the aforementioned draft bill in the government gazette notification and subsequently, forward the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.
The National Mineral Policy was prepared for the first time in the year 1999, and the aforementioned policy has been amended in 2023 to cover matters such as preparing an updated data system related to mineral resources, adding value to the export of minerals, encouraging mineral-related industrialists, extracting mineral resources and managing the environment sustainably, and resolving the issues related to the ownership of the land arising in extracting mineral resources.
The revised National Mineral Policy has been reupdated in line with the manifesto “A Sustainable Resource Utilization – Generation of the Highest Benefit” under the policy statement of the current government” A Thriving Nation – A Beautiful Life.”
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution presented by the Minister of Industries and
Entrepreneurship to implement the so-formulated “National Mineral Policy—2026.”
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