Announcing the Supreme Court’s determination last week, Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne informed the House that the Bill is consistent with the Constitution and can be passed with a simple majority under Article 121(1).
The ruling followed several petitions filed by former MPs who contended that the proposed legislation infringed on fundamental rights and therefore required approval by a special majority in Parliament and a public referendum. The Court, however, rejected those claims, clearing the way for the Bill to proceed under a standard voting threshold.
The draft legislation was presented to Parliament on January 7 by Minister of Justice Dr. Harshana Nanayakkara. The proposed law seeks to repeal provisions granting pensions to former legislators, a move the Government has framed as part of broader governance and fiscal reform efforts.
On February 12, the Bill also secured approval from the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Governance, Justice and Civil Protection, further strengthening its legislative momentum ahead of today’s debate.
