The President of the Commonwealth Lawyers' Association observed proceedings yesterday as the Supreme Court began hearing challenges to the Government's proposed 22nd Constitutional Amendment, with 67 petitions filed against the Bill.
Steven Thiru, President of the Commonwealth Lawyers' Association, attended the opening day of Supreme Court hearings yesterday as legal challenges to Sri Lanka's proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution commenced. The hearings, which continued for approximately 12 hours until 10:30 pm, reflect the scale of opposition to the Government's initiative.
Thiru's presence underscores international legal scrutiny of the amendment process. In July, he cautioned that Sri Lanka could face judicial complications similar to Zimbabwe's experience if constitutional changes proceed without extensive public engagement. During remarks to the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, Thiru clarified that concerns centre not on the proposed retirement age threshold itself, but rather on the timing, methodology, and way the amendment would be implemented.
A five-judge bench led by Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena is presiding over the case, which includes justices Achala Wengappuli, Arjuna Obeyesekere, Sampath Abeykoon, and Gihan Kulatunga. A total of 67 petitions have been filed challenging the Bill, including 41 submitted through online channels. Day two of proceedings continues today, with petitioners' legal representatives presenting arguments on constitutional grounds, followed by submissions from intervening petitioners and the Attorney General's defence of the Bill's validity.