• Petitioner states that the bill would avoid the  judicial powers of the people violating Article 3 and 4 of the  constitution

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda   

A lawyer, in a petition before Supreme Court, alleged that  the bill titled ‘Bureau of Rehabilitation’ has been brought with an  ulterior motive of further harassing Aragalaya protesters as this Bureau  is vested with powers to send persons to rehabilitation without a  judicial order.  

Attorney-at-law Amila Suyama Egodamahawatta who actively  involved in the public protest called ‘Aragalaya’ has filed a Special  Determination petition challenging the constitutionality of this bill  which was placed on the Order Paper of Parliament on September 23.   

The petitioner stated that the bill would avoid the  judicial powers of the people violating Article 3 and 4 of the  constitution.   

Through this petition, the petitioner is seeking a  declaration that the bill requires the approval by the people at a  Referendum in addition to the 2/3 approval of the Parliament.   
The petitioner said according to preamble of the bill, the  main objective of the Act is to rehabilitate the misguided combatants  and individuals engaged in extreme or destructive acts, whereas no  interpretation has been given to those terms.