Several parties including the United National Party (UNP) has filed petitions yesterday (15) at the Supreme Court challenging the Sri Lankan government’s proposed Port City Economic Commission bill.
The United National Party, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and civil society organizations filed special petitions in the Supreme Court yesterday (15) seeking a ruling that the “Colombo Port City Economic Zones Special Commission Bill” is unconstitutional.
Chairman of the UNP Vajira Abeywardena, General Secretary of the United National Party Palitha Range Bandara, Wasantha Samarasinghe, Member of the Political Bureau and Convener of the Inter Company Employees Union on behalf of the JVP, G. Kamal Renuka Perera, President of the IT Professionals Association, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka and Center for Policy Alternatives and its Executive Director Pakyasothy Saravanamuttu have filed the petitions.
The Attorney General has been named as the respondent.
The Bill, titled the ‘Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act’, provides legal framework for setting up of Special Economic Zone (SEZ) within the Colombo Port City and proposes the establishment of a Commission empowered to grant registrations, licenses, authorizations, and other approvals to carry on businesses and other activities in the Special Economic Zone.
In their petitions, the petitioners ask the Supreme Court to rule that the bill must be passed by a two-thirds majority in Parliament and by a referendum if it is to become law.
The petitions state that the Port City Commission to be established will be empowered under the Act to the detriment of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka.
Courtesy: Colombo Page
