The Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing for 24 January regarding a petition challenging the constitutionality of certain clauses in the Local Authorities Elections Special Provisions Bill, recently tabled in Parliament by the government.

The petition was filed by President’s Counsel Nizam Kariapper, Member of Parliament and General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC).

A three-member judge bench, comprising Justices Yasantha Kodagoda, Janak de Silva, and Arjuna Obeysekara, reviewed the petition today (22) and ordered it to be taken up for further hearing on 24 January.

The petitioner alleges that the government introduced the bill with the intention of annulling the nominations submitted for the previously scheduled local government elections. Furthermore, he contends that certain provisions in the bill infringe upon citizens’ voting rights, violating fundamental human rights.

Kariapper has requested the court to rule that the contentious provisions of the bill can only be enacted with a two-thirds parliamentary majority and approval through a referendum.