Anti-conversion bill inconsistent with the Constitution, says Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has ruled that the bill, "Prohibition of Forcible Conversions of Religion", is inconsistent with the Constitution in its present form.

The Court said that Clauses 3 and 4 (b) of the bill violate Article 10 of the Constitution. Therefore, it has to be passed by no less than a two-third majority of parliament and should be approved at a referendum in order to come into effect. However, the Court specified that if Clauses 3 and 4 (b) were deleted, the bill would not be inconsistent with the relevant constitutional provisions.

The Supreme Court has also recommended rephrasing and amending certain other clauses of the bill so that they would not contravene the Constitution.

The decision of the Supreme Court was announced by Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara in parliament on Tuesday. At the same time, the Supreme Court also ruled that the Elections (Special Provisions) Bill and the Finance (Amendment) Bill were not inconsistent with the Constitution.