The Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, Jagath Wickramaratne today announced the determination of the Supreme Court on the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Bill and the Judicature Amendment Bill, stating that it was consistent with the Constitution of Sri Lanka.
Announcing the Supreme Court’s interpretation, the Speaker further said the court has determined that the provisions of the 22nd Amendment Bill or any part thereof does not require approval by the people at a referendum by virtue of the provisions of the Article 83 of the Constitution.
“I wish to announce that I have received the determination of the Supreme Court in respect of the bill titled 22nd Amendment to the Constitution and the Judicature Amendment, which were challenged in the Supreme Court under Article 121 (1) of the Constitution. The Supreme Court has determined that the provisions of the 22nd Amendment Bill or any part thereof does not require approval by the people at a referendum by virtue of the provisions of the Article 83 of the Constitution. In the Provisor appearing in Clause 2 of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Bill, the phrase ‘67 ta elembena dinaya’ appearing shall therein be replaced with the phrase ‘67 ta sampurna kala dinaya’. The following to be added as the second provisor to the Clause 2 of the 22nd Amendment Bill, provided further that the term limits of 06 years set out in the first provisor will not apply to any person holding the Office of the Chief Justice as the date of coming into operation of this Act.
“The Supreme Court has further determined that the provisions of the Judicature Amendment Bill are not inconsistent with the Constitution of Sri Lanka and may be passed by the simple majority of the Parliament,” Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne announced today (22).
The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Bill, relating to the extension of the retirement age of judges, was presented to Parliament on August 18 by Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara.
Subsequently, various parties challenged the constitutionality of the Bill by filing petitions before the Supreme Court, and accordingly the total number of petitions filed was 67.
These petitions were examined before a five‑judge bench of the Supreme Court presided over by Chief Justice Preethi Padman Srasena, with Justices Achala Wengappuli, Arjuna Obeyesekere, Sampath Abeykoon, and Gihan Kulatunga.
On September 2, after concluding the hearings, the Supreme Court bench announced that the interpretation regarding the constitutionality of the Bill would be referred to the Speaker.
Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Business Committee recently decided that the debate on the 22nd Constitutional Amendment Bill will be held on the 24th and 25th of September. (Newswire)