President expects favourable SC ruling on controversial 22nd Amendment

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake 

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution would be approved by Parliament soon after the Supreme Court communicates its determination to the Speaker, addressing a public rally in Bulathsinhala.

The President said the proposed Amendment was essential to strengthen measures against corruption, and that the Government had taken steps to expedite the judicial process, including recruiting additional judicial service personnel, speeding up reports from the Government Analyst’s Department, and establishing more High Courts to clear the backlog of pending cases.

“Immediately after the determination, we will take it to Parliament and pass it,” he said.

The proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution seeks to extend the retirement age of higher court judges, a move opposed by the legal fraternity including the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL). 

Last week, the Supreme Court heard a record 64 petitions against the proposed constitutional change and said its judgement would be communicated to the Speaker of Parliament.

President Dissanayake said some cases had remained unresolved for 15 to 20 years, resulting in the current wave of arrests as authorities worked through the backlog. 

“Some claim that we are carrying out political revenge. If there had been no backlog of cases, there would not be this many arrests,” President Dissanayake said.

He further claimed that if all alleged corruption and wrongdoing uncovered by the Government were fully investigated, few of those responsible would remain untouched, saying the scale of alleged wrongdoing had become apparent only after the Government examined State affairs from within. 

“If you look at the reality, it is almost to the extent that not a single person would be left,” he said, referring to those he accused of past corruption and wrongdoing.

President Dissanayake said the Government would proceed with constitutional and legal reforms despite opposition, alleging that beneficiaries of what he described as a “black State” were increasingly concerned, and that opponents of the reforms were approaching foreign embassies and writing to international organisations. 

“They should be worried. But remember, the decisions we take are carefully considered and taken on behalf of the people. We will not reverse any such decision,” he said.

On the black economy, President Dissanayake said action by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and Sri Lanka Customs had curbed illegal dollar outflows, claiming approximately $ 1 billion had been illegally moved out of the country, an amount he compared to Sri Lanka’s annual tea export earnings. 

He said measures had also been taken to prevent State revenue being diverted before reaching the Treasury or misused thereafter. “We closed all those routes and ensured that every cent that should come to the Treasury comes to the Treasury,” he said.

On fiscal matters, President Dissanayake said Government revenue reached 16.7% of GDP in 2025, the highest level in around three decades, and that Sri Lanka had recorded its lowest Budget deficit since 1957, attributing the improvement to higher revenue and tighter expenditure control. 

He criticised previous governments for undertaking major infrastructure projects, including ports and airports, without adequate assessments.

Looking ahead, he said the Government planned to allocate Rs. 2 trillion for capital expenditure next year, describing it as an unprecedented level of development spending, alongside a Rs. 2 billion budgetary reserve for each district to be used for local priorities with District Coordinating Committees and District Secretaries. 

He also cited increases in welfare payments, including the Mahapola scholarship allowance, the fertiliser subsidy, and allowances for elderly people and persons with disabilities.