Nine petitions filed against 22A

• Petitioners say certain provisions contrary to Constitution
• Wants two-thirds majority in Parliament and referendum for them to be adopted

Nine petitions have been filed before the Supreme Court claiming certain provisions of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Bill are contrary to the Sri Lankan Constitution and fundamental rights accorded to the country’s citizens through it. The petitions were filed by Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekara and nine others. The petitioners are requesting the courts to order the provisions to be adopted only after it is approved by a two-thirds majority vote of the Parliament and a referendum. 

The petitions have been filed before the Supreme Court by nine persons including Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekara, Vinivida Peramuna General Secretary Attorney-at-law Nagananda Kodithuwakku, and Attorney-at-Law Nuwan Bellantudawe.

The Attorney General has been named as the respondent in the petitions. The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution was presented to Parliament by Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa PC on 10 August. 

Wijeyadasa has said the newly proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, while being based on the 19th Amendment, will transcend the latter’s democratic features while also retaining the more progressive aspects of the 20th Amendment.