Social media activists have filed a petition with the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the 22nd Amendment Bill, arguing it undermines judicial independence and press freedom.
A new legal challenge has been mounted against the 22nd Amendment Bill, which was recently gazetted and tabled before Parliament. The petition, filed by social media activists Iraj Weeraratne, Chamara Wijesuriya, Nandana Kuda Meegoda, Nilanth Sathsara Gamage, and Milinda Rajapaksa, raises concerns about the constitutional implications of the proposed amendments.
The petitioners contend that certain provisions within the Bill pose risks to the independence of Sri Lanka's judiciary as well as to fundamental freedoms of expression. Based on these objections, they have appealed to the Supreme Court to determine that the Bill should not proceed through the standard parliamentary approval process.
Instead, the activists are requesting that the Court mandate a referendum be held before the amendment can be ratified. This represents one of several legal challenges that have emerged surrounding the 22nd Amendment since its introduction.
