The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has filed a petition before the Supreme Court challenging the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, which was presented to Parliament on Tuesday.
The case was filed under SC/SD/31/2026, according to the SJB.
SJB General Secretary and MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara is the petitioner, while the Attorney General has been named as the respondent.
The proposed amendment seeks to increase the retirement age of Supreme Court judges from 65 to 67 and Court of Appeal judges from 63 to 65.
The SJB said it had raised concerns over provisions contained in the amendment and had moved the Supreme Court to obtain a determination on its constitutionality.
The party said any amendment to the Constitution should be carefully considered in terms of its potential impact on the country’s democratic structure, separation of powers and the rights of the people.
In the petition, Madduma Bandara argues that altering the tenure of serving judges affects judicial independence, the separation of powers and the sovereignty of the people.
The petition asks the Supreme Court to determine that the provision extending the retirement ages is inconsistent with provisions of the Constitution and cannot become law without a special majority in Parliament and approval by the people at a referendum. (Newswire)