Thisath D.B. Wijeyagunawardene, President’s Counsel yesterday filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the 20th Amendment through his registered Attorney-at-Law, Lanka R. Dharmasiri Attorney-at-Law.

Wijeyagunawardene is a leading President’s Counsel having a substantial practice in the original Civil Courts and the Appellate Courts and is a well-known legal luminary

The petitioner in the said petition states that clauses bearing number 3, 6, 8, 12, 13, 19, 23, 25, 31, 53, 7, 14, 16, 17, 7, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 40(4), 54 and 55 of the Bill titled ‘The 20th Amendment to the Constitution’ are inconsistent and contrary to Article 3 read together with Article 4 of the Constitution.

.The petitioner states that the above clauses that were presented by the Minister of Justice Ali Sabry PC on 22 September should only be enacted to law after a referendum put to the people apart from two-third of Members of Parliament voting in favour of same.

The petitioner further states that the said Articles infringe the sovereignty of the people, infringe against the franchise of the people, jettison the concept of checks and balances, abolish transparency and encourage corrupt practices.

Farman Cassim, PC will appear in support of the said petition which is listed to be supported on 29 September.

CJ names five-member Bench to consider petitions challenging 20A Bill