Sri Lanka Supreme Court faces challenge over omitted 22nd Amendment petitions

Legal action has been initiated in Sri Lanka's Supreme Court following the discovery that eight petitions challenging the controversial 22nd Amendment to the Constitution were not listed for hearing. Petitioners Dias Bandaralage Ajith Shantha Kumara Jayathilaka and Gunathilakage Dakum Dular are seeking an explanation and access to parliamentary and registry records to determine why these properly filed submissions were excluded from the court calendar.

The omission has sparked political and legal debate. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa raised the issue in Parliament, arguing that all parties invoking the constitutional process must be afforded an opportunity to be heard. The matter has also drawn scrutiny from the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, which expressed concerns regarding the composition of the Supreme Court bench and the handling of oral submissions.

Respondents named in the action include the Registrar of the Supreme Court, the Secretary General of Parliament, the Speaker, and the Attorney General. The controversy adds to existing scrutiny regarding the procedural transparency of the 22nd Amendment's legal challenges.