SC decision on Port City Bill to be conveyed to Speaker

The Supreme Court yesterday wrapped up its hearings into multiple petitions on the proposed Port City Commission Bill and said its decision will be conveyed to the Speaker. 

The apex court concluded its five-day hearings, which included submissions of amendments proposed by the Government to the Attorney General. 

Additional Solicitor General Farzana Jameel, appearing for the Attorney General’s Department, informed the Supreme Court that the Government had decided to add several amendments to the Bill at the Parliamentary Committee stage. The Additional Solicitor General presented the amendments to the five-judge bench via a document and said that the proposed Bill does not reduce the powers of regulators, such as the Central Bank. 

Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya making short remarks at the end of the submissions said the Bill does not seek to give concessions directly to investors and that the Port City Commission will be required to get tax holidays approved by the Cabinet and these will also be submitted to Parliament. The five-judge bench then issued a notice saying their decision will be conveyed to the Speaker in due course.  

Nineteen petitions were lodged before the Supreme Court last week appealing for the Court to find the Bill in contravention of the Constitution and have it withdrawn, or mandate it be passed with two-thirds approval of Parliament and require a referendum before becoming law. 

The bench comprised Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, P.B. Aluwihare, Priyantha Jayawardena, Murdu N.B. Fernando and Janak De Silva.

The 19 petitions submitted against the Bill include those by UNP Chairman Vajira Abeywardena, UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara, former Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) MP Wasantha Samarasinghe, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), General Secretary of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Ranjith Madduma Bandara, and IT Professionals Association Chairman G. Kapila Renuka.

Chairman of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Prof. G. L. Peiris, SLPP General Secretary Attorney at Law Sagara Kariyawasam, and the legal association of the SLPP had filed interim petitions to make submissions regarding the petitions.