Supreme Court Declines Ruling on Housing Bills Following Government Assurance
February 17, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court has ruled that it is unnecessary to issue a formal determination on two contentious draft laws concerning tenant protections and rental regulations, after the Government indicated that the measures would not proceed in their current form.
Addressing Parliament today (17), Speaker Dr Jagath Wickramaratne informed the House that the Bills titled “Protection of Occupants” and “Rent Repeal” had been challenged before the apex court under Article 121(1) of the Constitution. However, subsequent developments rendered a judicial pronouncement unnecessary.
According to the Speaker, the Secretary to the Ministry of Justice provided an undertaking to the Attorney General on February 06 confirming that the proposed legislation would be withdrawn for further review.
The draft laws are now set to be referred to a panel of subject-matter experts, who will examine their legal, social and economic implications before revised versions are introduced afresh in Parliament.
Following this assurance, the petitioners who had sought judicial scrutiny withdrew their applications. In light of the withdrawal, the Supreme Court concluded that there was no requirement to deliver a determination under Article 121(3) of the Constitution.
The Speaker further stated that he had directed the court’s communication on the matter to be incorporated into the official parliamentary record, ensuring transparency in the legislative process.
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