Sri Lanka, Aug. 21 -- Three more petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the provisions of the bill submitted to Parliament by the government to revoke the privileges of former Presidents, declaring them unconstitutional.

The petitions were submitted by Senior Lecturer Mahinda Pathirana of Sabaragamuwa University, Attorney-at-Law Manoj Gamage, Media Spokesperson of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, and former Navy Chief of Staff S. M. Wijewickrama. The Attorney General has been named as the respondent.

The petitioners argue that Clauses 1 to 4 of the proposed bill violate the doctrine of separation of powers guaranteed by the Constitution. They also claim that certain provisions undermine the sovereignty of the peop...