AG: 20A can be enacted with 2/3 majority sans referendum

Cabinet approves draft Bill

By Saman Indrajith

Attorney General Dappula de Livera has informed the Secretary to the Ministry of Justice M. M. P. K. Mayadunne that the draft 20th Amendment to the Constitution can be enacted with a special majority of votes in Parliament without a referendum.

Attorney General de Livera had informed the Justice Ministry Secretary that the bill could be approved by the Parliament with a two-thirds majority of all members, Justice Ministry sources said. 

 Justice Minister Ali Sabry, on Tuesday, referred the draft bill titled the 20th Amendment to the Constitution to the Attorney General for his observations.

The bill was drafted by a five-member Cabinet subcommittee comprising Ministers Udaya Gammanpila, Prof. G. L. Peiris, Dinesh Gunawardena, Nimal Siripala de Silva and Ali Sabry.

The draft bill was approved by the Cabinet yesterday.