The Supreme Court has paused proceedings to determine whether petitions challenging the 22nd Amendment should be heard by all sitting judges rather than the current five-judge bench.
The Supreme Court adjourned hearings today for 15 minutes to announce its decision on a request to expand the judicial bench hearing petitions against the government's proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution. The matter was being considered by a five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena when multiple legal representatives sought the involvement of a full bench comprising all sitting judges.
Several President's Counsel, including M.A. Sumanthiran, Saliya Pieris, Ali Sabry, Geoffrey Alagaratnam, Eraj de Silva, Srinath Perera, Anura Meddegoda, and Maithri Gunaratne, made submissions requesting the expanded bench. However, the government's position, presented by Solicitor General Viraj Dayaratne on behalf of the Attorney General, opposed this request. The Solicitor General argued that Article 132(3) of the Constitution grants the Chief Justice sole discretion to determine bench composition, and that no other party possesses authority to influence this decision.
Counsel including President's Counsel Nigel Hatch, representing an intervening petitioner, also supported the government's position, affirming that bench composition remains within the Chief Justice's exclusive authority. After considering all submissions, the court announced it would reconvene following the 15-minute adjournment to deliver its ruling on the full bench request.