20A triumphs with support from 08 Opposition MPs

Colombo (News 1st);  The 20th Amendment (20A) to the Constitution was passed in Parliament on Thursday (22) night with 156 MPs voting for the Bill and 65 against.

20A was passed with the support from 08 Opposition MPs paving the way for the Government to secure a two-thirds majority.

The Opposition MPs who supported the Bill were:

SJB Anuradhapura District MP Ishak Rahuman.

SJB Anuradhapura District MP M.S. Thowfeek.

National List MP Diana Gamage.

Digamadulla MP H.M.M. Harees.

Digamadulla MP Faizal Cassim.

Badulla District MP A. Aravindh Kumar.

SLMC Batticaloa District MP Naseer Ahamad.

Muslim National Alliance Puttalam District MP Ali Sabri Raheem.

A separate voting held on the clause 17 of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution which is related to dual citizenship was also passed in the committee stage in Parliament. A majority of 157 MPs voted for the clause while 64 MPs voted against it.

Notably, All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) MP S. M. M. Muszhaaraff voted in favor.

The Bill titled 20th Amendment to the Constitution was challenged in the Supreme Court by various parties in terms of Article 121 (1) of the 1978 Constitution.

The Supreme Court ruled Clauses 3, 4, 14, and 22 in their present form are inconsistent with Article 3 read with Article 4 of the Constitution and therefore require approval by the People at a Referendum by virtue of the provisions of Article 83.

However, such inconsistency of Clause 3 and 14 would cease by amending in accordance with the proposed Committee stage amendments and the inconsistency in Clause 5 would cease, if Clause 5 is suitably amended as specified in the determination.

The Bill will become law once Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena certifies the Bill inclusive of the amendments.