[REVISION HISTORY]
Sri Lanka Parliament passes 22nd Amendment
7 recorded revisions of this situation.
What changed
2026-09-27 06:36 UTC → 2026-09-29 03:54 UTC ·
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removed
The Sri Lankan government’s efforts to pass the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution have met with significant political and legal resistance. The ruling National People’s Power (NPP) alliance has faced difficulties in securing cross-party consensus, with the Illankai Thamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) expressing concerns regarding national sovereignty. As the legislation moves toward critical parliamentary debates, specific judicial changes have been detailed. The amendment proposes increasing the retirement age for Supreme Court judges from 65 to 67 and for Court of Appeal judges from 63 to 65. It also seeks to expand the number of Court of Appeal judges from 19 to 24 and introduces a tenure provision for the Chief Justice, requiring retirement at age 67 or after six years in office. On September 22, the Supreme Court ruled that the 22nd Constitutional Amendment Bill does not require a public referendum and can be passed by a special two-thirds majority in Parliament. The Court directed that a proviso be added to ensure the six-year term limit does not apply to the current incumbent, Preethi Padman Surasena. Following intense political clashes, Parliament has officially passed the 22nd Amendment with a two-thirds majority, receiving 158 votes in favor and 63 against. The legislation, certified by Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, also includes the Judicature (Amendment) Act, which extends retirement ages for High Court judges from 61 to 63, and for District Judges and Magistrates from 60 to 62. These changes aim to expedite case resolutions and facilitate the establishment of regional Courts of Appeal. The bill passed despite opposition implementation of these tenure extensions has triggered widespread protests and criticism from a coalition including the SJB, ITAK, SLPP, legal professionals and civic groups. Opponents argue that the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC). extensions, carried out through legislative action, threaten the separation of powers and judicial independence.
Versions
- 2026-09-29 03:54 UTC Sri Lanka Parliament passes 22nd Amendment
- 2026-09-27 06:36 UTC Sri Lanka Parliament passes 22nd Amendment
- 2026-09-25 09:42 UTC Sri Lanka 22nd Amendment faces parliamentary debate
- 2026-09-23 04:42 UTC Sri Lanka 22nd Amendment faces parliamentary debate
- 2026-09-22 05:01 UTC Sri Lanka 22nd Amendment faces parliamentary debate
- 2026-09-20 16:33 UTC Sri Lanka 22nd Amendment faces parliamentary debate
- 2026-09-15 00:41 UTC Sri Lanka constitutional amendment controversy
- 2026-08-31 16:00 UTC Sri Lanka constitutional amendment controversy
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