The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and the Tamil National Alliance yesterday petitioned the Supreme Court against the Bill Titled ‘Parliamentary Elections (Amendment)’, gazetted on July 20, 2009.

The petitioners challenged in particular, Section 6 (6) of the Bill, which states that a political party shall not be entitled to be treated as a recognized political party if, in the opinion of the Elections Commissioner, its name signifies any religion or community.

This limitation is arbitrary, discriminatory and breaches the freedom of speech and expression. This provision is inconsistent with Articles 12 (1), 12(2), 14(1) (a) and 14(1)(C) of the Constitution of Sri Lanka.

The petitioners requested the Court to declare that this Bill could be passed only with a special majority in Parliament or with a referendum.

The Attorney General has been cited as respondent.

SLMC General Secretary M. T. Hassen Ali, M. S. Senathirajah and Gajenkumar Ponnambalam of the TNA were signatories to the respective petitions.