Parliament approved the Twenty-Second Amendment (22A) to the Constitution this week, confirming a government effort to amend judicial retirement ages and expand the Court of Appeal. The vote, held on Thursday and Friday, saw all 158 lawmakers from the ruling National People’s Power (NPP) party support the bill, while 62 members, primarily from the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), opposed it.
The 22A amendment increases the retirement age of Supreme Court judges from 65 to 67 and Court of Appeal judges from 63 to 65. It also expands the number of Court of Appeal judges from 19 to 24 and provides for the establishment of provincial Courts of Appeal. These changes were challenged on constitutional grounds, with critics alleging potential threats to judicial independence and accusations of “court packing” to secure government-friendly rulings. However, a five-member Supreme Court bench, led by Chief Justice P. Daman Sarusena, ruled that the bills did not undermine judicial independence and could be enacted with a two-thirds parliamentary majority without a referendum.
The opposition SJB and various civil society groups, including the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), strongly criticized the amendment. SJB members warned of the risks to judicial autonomy and highlighted concerns that extending judges’ terms could facilitate governmental control over future legal decisions. The BASL urged lawmakers to vote according to conscience, citing a lack of transparency and limited public consultation during the amendment’s drafting. Despite these appeals, government unity was affirmed by Prime Minister Hinsten Ariaramsuriya, who assured the ruling party’s cohesive support ahead of the vote.
The amendment's passage marks a significant development in Sri Lanka’s constitutional framework, reflecting the government’s legal and political strategy amid ongoing debates about balancing governance and judicial independence. The legislation was promptly certified into law by Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne following parliamentary approval.
In related judicial developments, the High Court Trial-at-Bar concluded the prolonged case concerning the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks. After seven years and extensive legal proceedings involving 24 accused, a three-judge panel convicted 15 individuals, sentencing them to prison terms ranging from 220 to 260 years. Nine defendants were acquitted. The attacks, which targeted churches and upscale hotels in Colombo and nearby areas, killed more than 260 people and injured many more, including foreign nationals.
Among those convicted were three men previously charged by the U.S. Department of Justice for terrorism offenses linked to ISIS, including Mohamed Naufar, Mohamed Anwar Mohamed Riskan, and Ahmed Milhan Hayathu Mohamed. The U.S. FBI played a supporting role in the investigation. The verdict was welcomed by the Catholic Church, which emphasized that the pursuit of full accountability remains ongoing, particularly with investigations into potential additional facilitators or conspirators. The case against former State Intelligence Service head Suresh Sallay, who is detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act without formal indictment, remains a significant focus for law enforcement authorities.
Meanwhile, on the economic front, the Appropriation Bill for the 2027 fiscal year was gazetted, outlining government expenditures capped at approximately Rs 4.99 trillion, with borrowing limited to Rs 3.8 trillion. The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development received the largest allocation, increasing to nearly Rs 857 billion from Rs 635 billion the previous year. Other major allocations included the Ministries of Public Administration, Health, Transport, and Defence. However, an International Monetary Fund (IMF) team monitoring Sri Lanka’s economic program expressed serious concerns regarding downside risks and proposed amendments to the IMF-supported Anti-Corruption Act, underscoring ongoing economic uncertainties despite government assurances.