The Supreme Court has approved the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Amendment Bill subject amendments.

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena informed Parliament today (08) that he has received the Determination of the Supreme Court in respect of the Bill titled "Fisheries AND Aquatic Resources (Amendment)," which was challenged in the Supreme Court in terms of Article 121(1) of the Constitution.

Upon consideration of the provisions of the Bill, the Supreme Court is of the view that Clauses 2, 3, and 7 are inconsistent with Article 12(1) of the Constitution, and therefore, those Clauses of the Bill as they stand at present could only be passed by a special majority in Parliament as required by Article

84(2) of the Constitution.

However, the Supreme Court has determined that the inconsistencies of the above-mentioned Clauses of the Bill would cease, subject to the amendments as set out in the Determination being moved at the Committee Stage of Parliament as proposed by the Attorney-General.