Sri Lanka's top court on Tuesday declared that many provisions of the Chinese port city bill are inconsistent with the country's Constitution. Meanwhile, Sri Lankan opposition parties are also opposing the bill. Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena read out the order of the Supreme Court in Parliament. Meanwhile, he said that certain provisions of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission bill inconsistent with the country's Constitution and needed to be passed by a two-thirds majority. Apart from this, there should be a national referendum as they were unconstitutional.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court had in April this year heard about 18 petitions filed by opposition parties and civil society groups. These petitions demanded a national referendum on the issue. The Court completed the hearing on these petitions on 23 May. Opposition parties say that this bill will transform Sri Lanka into a Chinese colony. A large number of local laws have been exempted for the port city project. Opposition parties, civil society groups and trade unions are strongly opposing it.
At the same time, the bill was to be discussed in Parliament on May 5. But Parliament was not made aware of the decision of the Supreme Court till then. Hence, the discussion postponed that day. Now it will now present for debate on May 19 and the day after.
Meanwhile, the Opposition has demanded a minimum three-day debate. The bill gazetted on March 24 and placed in the order paper of Parliament on April 9. The Opposition questioned the government's action to have the bill passed without allowing adequate time for public scrutiny.
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