By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana  

The Supreme Court has determined that the Bureau of Rehabilitation Bill is inconsistent as a whole with Article 12(1) of the Constitution and as such may be enacted only by the special majority required by Article 84(2) of the Constitution, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene announced yesterday.  

“However the inconsistency would cease if all references to ex combatants, extremists groups in the Bill are deleted and is limited to dependent persons and any others who may be identified by law as per the determination,” the Speaker added.  The Court has also recommended amendment of clause three of the Bill and thus the objective of the Bureau should be to rehabilitate drug dependent persons and others who have to be rehabilitated and to provide treatment to them.