Court to decide on constitutionality of anti-conversion bill

[TamilNet, Saturday, 31 July 2004, 01:19 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Supreme Court, this Friday 6 August, will conduct the inquiry into the forty-seven petitions filed in support and against the bill "Prohibition of Conversions through Unethical Means" which was presented in parliament last week and included in the order paper of the House. The Speaker referred the Bill to the Supreme Court to determine the bill's constitutionality, legal sources said.

After the inquiry the Supreme Court will inform the Speaker its determination on the bill whether the Bill contravenes the country's constitution or not, legal sources said.

The Chief Justice Mr.Sarath N.Silva is expected to announce the names of members of special bench who are appointed to inquire into the petitions, legal sources said.

A senior leader of the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) who is also a parliamentarian presented the controversial anti-conversion bill in parliament last week as private member motion.

Several Christian organizations and individuals have filed 22 petitions saying the bill is unconstitutional. Twenty five Buddhist organizations including several Buddhist priests and laymen have filed petitions in support of the bill, legal sources said.