National Environment Amendment Bill unconstitutional: Opposition

Colombo, June 24 (Daily Mirror) - The Opposition in Parliament today argued that the National Environment Amendment Bill is unconstitutional as it violates the 13th Amendment. 

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, who raised the issue initially, argued that the approval of the Provincial Councils is needed for the Bill to go ahead, as it is a subject in the concurrent list of powers as per the 13th Amendment of the Constitution. 

He also said the clause which enables the Central Government to file legal actions against Local Government bodies is unconstitutional as well, since local bodies are included in the Provincial Councils list. 

"How can you go ahead at a time when the Provincial Councils do not function," he questioned.

ITAK MP P. Sathyalingam also came up with the issue, but Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne, who responded, said the MPs could raise the matters while the debate goes on.