Supreme Court verdict on 22nd Amendment to be communicated to Speaker on September 18

The Supreme Court verdict on the petition hearing related to the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution is scheduled to be communicated to the Speaker on September 18, it is reported.

The petition hearing was conducted before a five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena. More than 110 petitions were filed in favor of and against the 22nd Amendment.

According to the Constitution, the Supreme Court must communicate its decision to the Speaker within three weeks.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan government was scheduled to explain the 22nd amendment to extend the retirement age of Supreme Court and Court of Appeal judges at the UN Human Rights Council meeting currently underway in Geneva. 

The government is expected to point out that this amendment is essential to reduce the backlog of cases in the judicial system and to make the judicial process more efficient. 

After UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk presented a written update on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Sumith Dassanayake, was scheduled to present Sri Lanka’s statement. 

It was reported that the government will also focus on the progress made by the government in the last two years, the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, the release of land held by the military in the North and strengthening the local accountability process. 

In addition, the government will also provide information on the measures taken to reduce prison overcrowding and the prison crisis. 

However, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed its grave concern over threats to victims and civil society organizations, arbitrary arrests, torture, and restrictions imposed on non-governmental organizations.