Proposed Organised Crimes Bill faces mounting challenges before Supreme Court

Daily Mirror and Ada Derana report that the Supreme Court took up petitions challenging the constitutionality of the proposed Prevention of Organised Crimes Bill. WhatNews (සිංහල) says the petitions were heard on the 4th.

Daily Mirror reports that 26 Special Determination petitions had been filed. Newswire first reported a total of 20 petitions, and later said six additional petitions had been filed, bringing the total to 26. Ada Derana reports that 26 petitions were due to be taken up by the court.

Daily Mirror says petitioners raised concerns that provisions in the proposed bill could affect fundamental rights, judicial oversight and the media. WhatNews (සිංහල) reports that President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva suggested during the hearing that someone involved in preparing the draft may have misled the President or the government.

Newswire and Ada Derana report that Deputy Speaker Rizvi Salih received copies of 20 petitions challenging the bill. The reports do not specify what further court proceedings are scheduled.

Written automatically by AI from the outlets’ own reports, and not reviewed by an editor. It can be wrong — the original report is the authority.