National People's Power MP Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi has submitted a petition to the Supreme Court arguing that the government's proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution does not require public referendum approval and can proceed through parliamentary process.
A petition supporting the government's 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Bill has been filed before the Supreme Court by National People's Power Member of Parliament Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi. The petitioner contends that the proposed amendment's provisions do not undermine the sovereignty of the people or compromise judicial independence, thereby negating any requirement for a public referendum.
According to the petition, the constitutional amendment can be enacted through the standard parliamentary procedures outlined in the Constitution without needing to proceed to a public vote. The filing adds another layer to an ongoing constitutional debate surrounding the proposed reforms.
The petition emerges amid significant legal contestation of the amendment. At least 21 petitions have already been filed before the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the proposed changes. The government has indicated its readiness to move forward with the constitutional reforms while signalling willingness to comply with any Supreme Court direction regarding whether a referendum is necessary.
