Two features catch practitioners out. First, its fundamental-rights jurisdiction under Article 126 is original and exclusive but subject to a one-month limit from the infringement, which is strictly applied. Second, constitutional review of legislation is pre-enactment only: once a bill becomes law, Article 80(3) bars any court from questioning its validity, so a challenge must be brought within the week allowed after a bill is placed on the order paper. The court has no general power to strike down an existing statute.
How the court is constituted
- Tier
- supreme
- Court type
- Apex and constitutional court
- Jurisdiction
- Exclusive original jurisdiction over fundamental-rights applications under Article 126, constitutional review of bills before enactment under Article 121, final appeals from the Court of Appeal by leave, and consultative jurisdiction on presidential reference.
- Seat
- Colombo
- Established
- 1801
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