2023 Revised Edition

Contents

Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka · 2023 Revised Edition · Chapter XVI · The Superior Courts

122. Special exercise of constitutional jurisdiction in respect of urgent Bills

Unofficial copy, with amendments up to 31 Oct 2022. Later amendments are not included. Check the official text before you rely on it.

118[(1) In the case of a Bill which is, in view of the Cabinet of Ministers, urgent in the interest of national security or for the purpose of any matter relating to disaster management, and bears an endorsement to that effect under the hand of the Secretary to the Cabinet -

(a)

the provisions of paragraph (1) of Article 78 and of Article 121, shall, subject to the provisions of paragraph (2) of this Article, have no application;

(b)

the President shall, by a written reference addressed to the Chief Justice, require the special determination of the Supreme

Court as to whether the Bill or any provision thereof is inconsistent with the

Constitution. A copy of such reference shall at the same time be delivered to the

Speaker;

(c)

the

Supreme

Court shall make its determination within twenty-four hours

(or such longer period not exceeding three days as the President may specify) of the assembling of the

Court and shall communicate its determination only to the

President and the Speaker.

(2)

The provisions of paragraph (2) of Article 121

shall, mutatis mutandis, apply to such Bill.

118 - Inserted by the Twentieth Amendment to the Constitution Sec. 26.

(3)

The provisions of this Article shall not apply to any Bill for the amendment, repeal and replacement, alteration or addition of any provision of the Constitution or for the repeal and replacement of the Constitution.]

Read on from art 123

Chapter XVII