BASL strongly opposes 22nd Amendment, says referendum required

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has strongly opposed the proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, warning that it threatens judicial independence and can only be enacted with public approval at a referendum.

In a statement dated August 12, 2026, the BASL raised serious concerns over the Bill, which was published in the Gazette by the Government on August 7.

The main purpose of the proposed amendment is to extend the retirement ages of judges of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.

The Government has said the amendment is intended to speed up court proceedings and improve the efficiency of the judicial system. However, the BASL said it is unclear how extending judges’ retirement ages would help achieve those objectives.

According to the BASL, stakeholders in the legal profession, including the Bar Association and the Judicial Service Association, have unanimously opposed the amendment, arguing that it amounts to direct interference with judicial independence.

The BASL said religious leaders, a wide range of civil society organizations, as well as prominent bar associations and judges’ associations overseas, have also expressed opposition to the proposal.

The Association therefore once again strongly reiterated its opposition to the proposed constitutional amendment.

It said that if the Government proceeds with the proposal despite these objections and growing public criticism, the amendment can lawfully be enacted only with the approval of the people at a referendum.