Court dismisses JVP petition against 2008 budget

[TamilNet, Thursday, 18 October 2007, 01:07 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Supreme Court Wednesday dismissed the two applications challenging the constitutionality of the Appropriation Bill for the next year budget filed by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and a group of intellectuals , which was submitted in parliament last week. The Appropriation Bill was submitted in parliament last week as a prelude to the proposed Budget-2008 which is to be tabled on November 7.

The petitioners have cited the Attorney General as the respondent.

The two applications came up for inquiry before a bench of the Supreme Court presided by Chief Justice Mr. Sarath N Silva Wednesday. The Chief Justice said in his order that the court has no jurisdiction to interfere in the activities of parliament, as the parliament is supreme in dealing with financial matters, legal sources said.

Mr.Sunil Handunetti, a JVP parliamentarian, filed the application on behalf of his party. Mr.Nihal Sri Amerasinghe, leading economist filed the petition on behalf of intellectuals.

Both petitioners begged the court to declare that the Appropriation Bill tabled in parliament by the Deputy Finance Minister Mr.Ranjit Siyambalapitya is against the Sri Lanka's constitution.

They further begged court to declare that the appropriation bill should be carried out in parliament with a two-third majority and also endorsed by the people in a referendum as it contravenes the country's constitution.