CA
Dilan Perera u. Rajitha Senaratne (Yapa,.J.)
97
continue to operate subject to the provisions of Act, No. 44 of
1980 and Act, No. 1 of 1981. Once the Ceylon (Parliamentaiy
Elections) Order in Council, 1946, continue to operate, then,
one has to apply Section 13(3)(c) of the Ceylon (Constitution)
Order in Council, 1946, (hereinafter referred to as the
Soulbury Constitution) for the purpose of considering any
disqualification by reason of contract. The reason being that
Section 77 of the Ceylon (Parliamentary Elections) Order in
Council, 1946, refers to the grounds for the avoidance of
Elections and more specifically Section 77(e) gives the
disqualification for election as one of the grounds. In these
circumstances Section 13(3) (c) of the Soulbury Constitution
should be considered for any disqualification by reason of any
contract. This was the view taken by the Supreme Court in the
case of DahanayaJce vs. De Silvafsupra). In that case
Samarakoon C.J. considered the scope of Sections 73, 75 and
12(1) of the 1972 Constitution and held that Section 75 kept
alive the election laws that were in operation on 21st May 1972
and Section 13(3)(c) of the Soulbury Constitution was one
such law. The analogous provisions to the said Sections of the
1972 Constitution are found in Article 101 (1) & (2) and Article
168(1) in the 1978 Constitution. Further the definition of “law"
in Article 170 of the 1978 Constitution includes an Order in
Council.
In the instant case learned Additional Solicitor General
Mr. Marsoof, sought to argue that Section 13(3)(c) of the
Soulbuiy Constitution is also kept alive in terms of Article
168(1) of the 1978 Constitution. Mr. Choksy countered this
argument on the basis that the reasoning of learned Additional
Solicitor General was wrong because Section 13(3)(c) of the
Soulbury Constitution was not in force immediately before the
commencement of the 1978 Constitution, since Soulbury
Constitution had been repealed by the 1972 Constitution.
However, the application of Section 13(3)(c) to the present
situation as the law applicable should be considered for
the following reason. At the hearing of this application a