The law of Sri Lanka, in plain language.
The Constitution, chapter by chapter
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Questions people actually ask
Before you read
Some parts cannot be changed by Parliament alone
Articles 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 83 are entrenched. Changing them needs a two-thirds majority and a national referendum. Look for the gold badge on those articles.
A law can only be challenged before it is passed
Under Articles 120 and 121, a Bill can be challenged in the Supreme Court — but the petition must be filed within fourteen days of the Bill being placed on the Order Paper. Once the Speaker certifies an Act, Article 80 shuts the door: no court may question its validity. And some Bills you cannot challenge at all: one the Cabinet certifies as urgent for national security or disaster management (Article 122), and one amending the Constitution that the Cabinet certifies for a referendum (Article 120).
Rights are not all the same shape
Articles 10 and 11 are absolute; Article 15 permits no restriction on them. Most other rights can be limited by law on stated grounds, and Article 16 keeps pre-1978 laws valid even where they conflict with the rights chapter.
Where the text comes from
Revised Edition 2023
The consolidated Constitution as amended to 31 October 2022, published by the Parliament Secretariat. The article numbers, titles and structure here follow that edition.
Three official languages, one that prevails
Where the official Sinhala, Tamil and English texts differ, the Sinhala text prevails. The summaries here are explanations, not the law.