Since the 19th Amendment of the Constitution has not been passed in a formal manner, a fundamental rights petition has been filed before the Supreme Court asking for a ruling that the Constitution is violated by holding the next presidential election until it is approved by a referendum.Sri Lanka Latest News
This petition has been submitted by lawyer Mr. Aruna Laksiri Unawatuna.
The Election Commission and its members, the General Secretary of Parliament and the Attorney General have been named as respondents.
The petitioner claims that through the 19th amendment of the Constitution, Article 70 of the Constitution has been amended to deprive the President of the power to dissolve an elected Parliament after one year has passed.
The petitioner claims that the amendment has not been approved by a referendum even though a Supreme Court bench has ruled that the amendment should be referred to a referendum.
The petitioner has pointed out that the amendment cannot be considered as a law as the amendment has been approved by a referendum and the President has not signed it.
Despite this, he points out that it is wrong to continue to accept the 19th amendment as a law.
