Govt. to reconsider Protection of Occupants Bill: AG

10 February 2026 10:10 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 3 Bookmark

A A A

Colombo, Feb. 10 (Daily Mirror) - The Attorney General yesterday informed the Supreme Court that the government has decided to revisit the proposed Protection of Occupants Bill, 2025, which was recently presented in Parliament by the Minister of Justice.

Senior Additional Solicitor General Sumathi Dharmawardena, appearing for the Attorney General, informed the court that the Minister of Justice and National Integration had granted a one-month period commencing February 3, 2026, to gather ideas and proposals regarding the Protection of Occupants Bill.

The court was also informed that the proposed legislation would undergo a comprehensive review by an expert committee, after which an amended version would be presented to Parliament.

Taking these facts into consideration, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Justices Mahinda Samayawardhena, Arjuna Obeyesekere and Sampath Abeykoon, decided to terminate the proceedings.

Five Special Determination petitions had been filed before the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the proposed Protection of Occupants Bill, 2025.

The Bill, which was gazetted in September last year and recently tabled in Parliament by the Minister of Justice and National Integration, Harshana Nanayakkara, seeks to introduce legal safeguards to prevent the arbitrary eviction of occupants from premises.

In their petitions, the petitioners allege that certain clauses of the proposed legislation are inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution.

The petitioners are seeking a declaration from the Supreme Court that the Bill may be enacted only with the approval of the people at a referendum and with a two-thirds majority in Parliament.

Faiszer Musthapha, PC, Upul Kumarapperuma, PC with Shantha Jayawardene appeared for the petitioners. Faisz Musthapha, PC, appeared for the Intervening Petitioner. Senior Additional Solicitor General Sumathi Dharmawardena appeared for the Attorney General.

Comments - 3

E Sarath Tuesday, 10 February 2026 10:18 AM

Amounts to asking for trouble at a time when tenants and landlords are in peaceful terms. On the other hand this could create unwanted headache to the incumbent government.

0 0

Sohan Tuesday, 10 February 2026 10:44 AM

Property owners should be encouraged more to rent properties but this inexperienced and practically zero experience government is doing totally opposite.

0 0

S P Tuesday, 10 February 2026 01:34 PM

This is not rocket science. In many other countries the issue of the rights of the tenant vs the rights of the owner has been settled satisfactorily and amicably by proper legislation so that both parties can enjoy their rights smoothly. This is essential for the rental industry to make its due contribution to the society. It encourages investors to invest in and the renters to enjoy trouble free tenancy without going into costly and unpleasant litigation that can only enrich the lawyers. Just examine the systems in place in countries like Australia where some tax benefits called ‘negative gearing’ exist, standard tenancy agreements, involvement of an intermediary called property management company help resolving the issues between the tenant and the landlord (at a minimal cost to the owner). As a result there’s an army of mum and dad investors help keeping the rental industry going in these countries where as us here are struggling with disjointed antique legislation!

0 0

222

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.