Shipping Bill needs special majority to be enacted, SC says

The Supreme Court has determined that the Bill entitled “Licensing of Shipping Agents, Freight Forwarders, Non-Vessel Operating Common Carriers and Container Operators (Amendment)” may be enacted only by the special majority required by Article 84(2) of the Constitution, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana announced to the House yesterday.

The announcement read, “I wish to announce to the Parliament that I have received the Determination of the Supreme Court in respect of the Bill entitled “Licensing of Shipping Agents, Freight Forwarders, Non-Vessel Operating Common Carriers and Container Operators (Amendment)” which was challenged in the Supreme Court in terms of Article 121(1) of the Constitution.”

“The Supreme Court has determined that the Bill as a whole is inconsistent with Articles 12(1) and 148 of the Constitution and as such may be enacted only by the special majority required by Article 84(2) of the Constitution,” the SC determination said.