The Supreme Court has dismissed a Fundamental Rights petition filed by Parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran, challenging the Speaker's certification of the Online Safety Bill.
A three-judge bench comprising Justices Priyantha Jayawardena, Shiran Goonaratne, and Achala Wengappuli declined to grant leave to proceed with the petition, considering preliminary objections raised by Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam.
The Attorney General argued that the Supreme Court lacks jurisdiction to intervene in legislative matters after the Speaker certifies a bill passed by Parliament.
In his petition, Sumanthiran sought a declaration that the Speaker's certification of the Online Safety Act is legally invalid. He further sought a declaration that the fundamental rights guaranteed by Article 12(1) and 14 of the constitution, both to himself and citizens, were infringed by the Attorney General's failure to advise the Speaker and Parliament that committee stage amendments did not align the Online Safety Bill with the Supreme Court's determination.
The respondents in the petition are Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana and the Attorney General.
