Legal professionals and opposition parties have challenged the government's 22nd Amendment proposal, which seeks to extend the retirement age of superior court judges, filing petitions with the Supreme Court within hours of parliamentary presentation.
The government's 22nd Amendment to the Constitution has faced immediate legal challenges following its tabling in Parliament. Multiple petitions were filed before the Supreme Court on the same day, initiating a 14-day period for stakeholders to submit objections to both the constitutional amendment and proposed amendments to the Judicature Act.
The Bar Association of Sri Lanka moved quickly to file a petition questioning the amendment's validity. Other petitioners included President's Counsel Maithri Gunaratne, who heads the Independent Lawyers' Association, along with political parties and individuals such as the Sarva Jana Balaya, Samagi Jana Balawegaya, and former Minister Professor G.L. Peiris. The Attorney General has been named as the respondent in these petitions.
The amendment aims to extend the retirement age for judges serving in superior courts, though the petitioners argue this requires greater constitutional scrutiny. Those challenging the measure contend that the 22nd Amendment is inconsistent with the Constitution and should only be enacted with approval from a two-thirds parliamentary majority as well as through a national referendum. The Supreme Court will consider these arguments during the designated petition period.
