PL 12219 T-03 SD 4th Reading The Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka THE CONSTITUTION OF DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SRI LANKA (As amended up to 29th October 2020) Revised Edition – 2021 Published by the Parliament Secretariat 3/219 8 ii The Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Revised Edition – 2021 Published by the Parliament iii The Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka This unofficial edition edited by the Bills Office of the Legislative Services Department of Parliament of Sri Lanka reproduces the text of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka as amended by Parliament from time to time up to the Twentieth Amendment to the Constitution. The footnotes below the text indicate the Amendments to the Constitution by which such Amendments have been made. iv The Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka v The Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka CONTENTS Article CHAPTER - I THE PEOPLE, THE STATE AND SOVEREIGNTY 1 The State .... .... .... 1 2 Unitary State .... .... .... 1 3 Sovereignty of the People .... .... .... 1 4 Exercise of Sovereignty .... .... .... 1 5 Territory of the Republic .... .... .... 2 6 The National Flag .... .... .... 2 7 The National Anthem .... .... .... 2 8 The National Day .... .... .... 2 CHAPTER - II BUDDHISM 9 .... .... .... 3 CHAPTER - III FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS 10 Freedom of thought, conscience and .... .... 4 11 Freedom from torture .... .... .... 4 12 Right to equality .... .... .... 4 13 Freedom from arbitrary arrest, detention and punishment, and prohibition of retrospective penal legislation .... .... 4 14 Freedom of speech, assembly, association, occupation, movement, &c. 6 14A Right of access to .... .... 6 15 Restrictions on fundamental rights .... .... 7 16 Existing written law and unwritten law to continue in force .... 8 17 Remedy for the infringement of fundamental rights by executive action 9 vi The Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Article CHAPTER - IV LANGUAGE 18 Official Language .... .... .... 10 19 National Languages .... .... .... 10 20 Use of National Languages in Parliament, Provincial Councils and Local Authorities .... .... .... 10 21 Medium of instruction .... .... .... 10 22 Languages of Administration .... .... 11 23 Language of Legislation .... .... .... 13 24 Languages of the .... .... .... 13 25 Provision for adequate facilities for use of languages provided for in this Chapter .... .... .... 14 25 A Provision of any law inconsistent with this Chapter deemed to be repealed .... .... .... 15 CHAPTER - V CITIZENSHIP 26 Citizenship of Sri Lanka .... .... .... 16 CHAPTER - VI DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES OF STATE POLICY AND FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES 27 Directive Principles of State .... .... 17 28 Fundamental .... .... .... 19 29 Principles of State Policy and fundamental duties not justifiable ... 19 CHAPTER - VII THE EXECUTIVE The President of the Republic 30 The President of the Republic .... .... 20 31 The election and the term of office of the President .... 20 32 Assumption of office .... .... .... 23 33 Powers and functions of the President … … 24 33A Repealed 34 Grant of Pardon .... .... .... 25 35 Immunity of President from suit .... .... 26 36 Salary and .... .... .... 27 37 Exercise, performance and discharge of powers, duties and functions of the President by the Prime Minister .... .... 27 vii The Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Article 38 Vacation of office by President .... .... 28 39 Determination by the Supreme Court that the President was not duly elected or the election of the President was void .. .... 30 40 Vacation of office by President and election of succeeding President 31 41 President’s staff .... .... .... 32 CHAPTER - VII A THE EXECUTIVE The Parliamentary Council 41A President to make the appointments in respect of the Commissions and offices referred to in the Schedules .... .... 33 CHAPTER - VIII THE EXECUTIVE The Cabinet of Ministers 42 Responsibility of the President .... .... 37 43 Cabinet of .... .... .... 37 44 Ministers of Cabinet and their subjects and functions .... 37 45 Ministers who are not members of the Cabinet and their Ministries, subjects and functions .... .... .... 38 46 Deputy Ministers .... .... .... 38 47 Tenure of office of the Prime Minister, Ministers and Deputy Ministers and the limitation of number of Ministers and Deputy .... 39 48 Cabinet of Ministers after dissolution of Parliament .... 39 49 Dissolution of Cabinet of .... .... 40 50 Acting Minister and acting Deputy .... .... 41 51 Secretary to the Prime Minister and Secretary to the Cabinet of Ministers .. 41 52 Secretaries to Ministries .... .... .... 41 53 Official oath or affirmation .... .... .... 42 CHAPTER - IX THE EXECUTIVE The Public Service 54 Public Service Commission .. .... .... 43 55 Powers and functions of Cabinet of Ministers and of the Commission 45 viii The Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Article 56 Committees of the Commission .... .... 45 57 Delegation of powers to a public .... .... 46 58 Right of appeal .... .... .... 46 59 Administrative Appeals Tribunal .... .... 46 60 Commission not to exercise power where there is delegation .... 46 61 Procedure at meetings .... .... .... 47 61A Immunity from legal .... .... 47 61B Savings of rules and regulations in force .... .... 47 61C Interference with the .... .... 47 61D Oath or affirmation of office .... .... 48 61E Appointments by the President .... .... 48 61F Interpretation .... .... .... 48 CHAPTER - X THE LEGISLATURE Parliament 62 Parliament.... .... .... .... 49 63 Official oath or affirmation.... .... .... 49 64 Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chairman of Committees .. 49 65 Secretary -General of Parliament .... ... 50 66 Vacation of seats.... .... .... .... 51 67 Privileges, immunities and powers of Parliament and Members .... 51 68 Allowances of .... .... .... 51 69 Powers of Parliament to act notwithstanding .... 52 CHAPTER - XI THE LEGISLATURE Procedure and 70 Sessions of Parliament .... .... .... 53 71 .... .... .... 55 72 Voting .... .... .... 55 73 Quorum .... .... .... 55 74 Standing Orders .... .... .... 55 75 Legislative power .... .... .... 55 ix The Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Article 76 Delegation of legislative power .... .... 56 77 Duties of Attorney -General in regard to published .... 56 78 Publication of Bills and passing of Bills and resolutions .... 57 79 Certificate of Speaker .... .... .... 57 80 When Bill becomes law .... .... .... 57 81 Expulsion of Members and imposition of civic disability .... 58 CHAPTER - XII LEGISLATURE Amendment of the Constitution 82 Amendment or repeal of the Constitution must be expressed .... 60 83 Approval of certain Bills at a Referendum .... .... 61 84 Bills inconsistent with the .... .... 61 CHAPTER - XIII THE REFERENDUM 85 Submission of Bills to people by Referendum .... 62 86 Submission of matters of national importance to People by Referendum .... .... .... 62 87 Parliament to provide for procedure .... .... 62 CHAPTER - XIV THE FRANCHISE AND ELECTIONS 88 Right to be an elector .... .... .... 63 89 Disqualification to be an elector .... .... 63 90 Qualification for election as a Member of Parliament .... 66 91 Disqualification for election as a Member of Parliament .... 66 92 Disqualification for election as President .... .... 69 93 Election to be free, equal and secret .... .... 69 94 Election of the .... .... .... 70 95 Delimitation Commission .... .... .... 71 96 Electoral Districts .... .... .... 71 96A Repealed 97 Proclamation of names, &c. of electoral .... 72 x The Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Article 98 Number of Members to be returned by the several electoral districts and their apportionment among such electoral districts .... 72 99 Proportional representation .... .... 73 99A Election of Members of Parliament on the basis of the total number of votes polled at a General Election .... .... 76 100 Penalty for sitting and voting in Parliament when disqualified .... 78 101 Parliament may make provision in respect of elections... .... 78 102 Public officer or an officer of a public corporation not to function during period of .... .... .... 79 CHAPTER - XIV A ELECTION COMMISSION 103 Election Commission .... .... .... 80 104 Meetings of the .... .... 81 104A Finality of decisions and immunity from .... .... 81 104B Powers, functions and duties of the Commission .... 82 104C Deployment of Police by the Commission .... .... 84 104D Deployment of Armed Forces .... .... 85 104E Commissioner -General of Elections and other officers of the Commission .... .... .... 85 104F Returning Officers .... .... .... 86 104G Public Officers .... .... .... 86 104GG Failure to comply with directions to be an offence .... .... 87 104H Power of Supreme Court to issue writs.... .... .... 87 104J Interpretation .... .... .... 87 CHAPTER - XV THE JUDICIARY 105 Establishment of Courts, . .... .... 88 106 Public sittings .... .... .... 89 Independence of the Judiciary 107 Appointment and removal of Judges of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal .... .... .... 89 108 Salaries of Judges of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal .... 90 xi The Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Article 109 Acting appointments .... .... .... 90 110 Performance or discharge of other duties or functions by Judges 91 111 Appointment, removal and