Three new petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court challenging a government bill in Parliament that seeks to revoke the privileges of former Presidents, on the grounds that it violates the Constitution.

The petitions were submitted by Sabaragamuwa University lecturer Mahinda Pathirana, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s media spokesman Attorney-at-Law Raveendra Manoj Gamage, and former Navy Chief of Staff Mohan Wijewickrama, with the Attorney General named as the respondent.

The petitioners contend that Clauses 1 to 4 of the proposed bill breach the doctrine of separation of powers guaranteed under the Sri Lankan Constitution. They also argue that several provisions undermine the sovereignty of the people and the constitutional independence of key institutions.

Furthermore, they claim that, as a whole, the bill infringes upon fundamental constitutional principles and violates Articles 1, 3, 4, and 12(1) of the Constitution, including individual fundamental rights.

The petitioners have requested the Supreme Court to rule that the relevant clauses cannot be passed in Parliament without a two-thirds majority and subsequent approval by the people through a referendum.

Earlier, Renuka Perera, Administrative Secretary of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), along with two other individuals, had also filed petitions challenging the same bill.