The secret decision of the Supreme Court regarding the constitutionality of the draft bill of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution is expected to be presented to the Parliament today (20).

It was referred to Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana on the 10th of October.

The debate on the proposed 20th Amendment will be held in Parliament on the 21st and 22nd October, as decided during the meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business held last Friday (16).

The draft bill of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution was tabled in Parliament on the 22nd of September after the Cabinet of Ministers gave the nod.

Subsequently, 39 petitions in total were filed against the draft bill, citing the Attorney General as the respondent.

The petitions were put forward by Election Commission member Professor Ratnajeevan Hoole, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Youth Wing Chairman Mayantha Dissanayake and Attorney-at-Law P. Liyanaarachchi of the Sirilaka Janatha Peramuna, Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL), former Governor and Executive Director of the Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) Ranjith Keerthi Tennakoon, human rights activist Abdul Zanoon and many others.

Ministers Nimal Siripala de Silva, Gamini Lokuge and Prof. GL Peiris meanwhile filed interim petitions seeking permission to present cross-submissions pertaining to the petitions challenging the 20th Amendment draft bill.

In addition, MPs Sagara Kariyawasam, Venerable Omare Kassapa Thera, M. Dayaratne, W.A. Weerathilake and P.G.B. Abeyratne had also filed interim petitions.

The Supreme Court then concluded the consideration of petitions filed challenging the draft bill on the 5th of October.