Supreme Court begins hearing 67 petitions over 22nd Amendment Bill
The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka
The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka today (September 1) began considering 67 petitions filed both challenging and supporting the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Bill presented to Parliament by the government.
The petitions are being heard before a five-member Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena.
The other members of the bench are Justices Achala Wengappuli, Arjuna Obeyesekere, Sampath Abeykoon and Gihan Kulatunga.
A total of 67 petitions have been filed before the Supreme Court in connection with the proposed 22nd Amendment.
Meanwhile, five separate petitions have also been filed challenging the Judicature (Amendment) Bill.
UPDATE – 12:15 PM:
The Supreme Court adjourned the hearing of the petitions relating to the 22nd Amendment for 15 minutes to decide on requests to have them considered by a full bench of the Supreme Court.
President’s Counsel M.A. Sumanthiran, appearing for one of the petitioners, requested that the petitions be considered by a bench comprising all sitting Supreme Court judges. Several other counsel appearing for petitioners also supported the request.
Solicitor General Viraj Dayaratne, appearing for the Attorney General, submitted that under Article 132(3) of the Constitution, the authority to decide the composition and number of judges on a bench rests with the Chief Justice.
Counsel appearing for an intervening petitioner also made submissions supporting that position.
After considering the submissions, the court adjourned proceedings for 15 minutes before announcing its decision on the request.
UPDATE – 12:55 PM:
The Supreme Court rejected the request to have the petitions relating to the 22nd Amendment considered by a full bench comprising all sitting Supreme Court judges.
Delivering the order, Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena said the request had been rejected and that consideration of the petitions would continue before the existing five-member bench.
The five-judge bench issued the order after considering the submissions made by the parties.