22A sparks storm in House

Opposition MPs led by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa staged a protest in Parliament on Tuesday (18) against the tabling of the draft 22nd Amendment to the Constitution and the Judicature (Amendment) Bill, with Premadasa declaring that the move marked “the death of democracy in this country.”

The protest erupted after Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara tabled the two pieces of legislation, prompting opposition MPs to raise several points of order over the proposed changes to judges’ retirement ages.

“Today marks the death of democracy in this country,” Premadasa, also the leader of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), said.

The draft 22nd Amendment proposes increasing the mandatory retirement age of Supreme Court judges from 65 to 67 years and that of Court of Appeal judges from 63 to 65 years.

The Judicature (Amendment) Bill seeks to raise the retirement age of judges of the High Courts, District Courts and Magistrates’ Courts to 62 years.

The Government has defended the proposed changes, saying they are intended to address shortages of judicial officers, retain experienced judges and strengthen the judicial system.

Responding to a question from Premadasa, Nanayakkara dismissed the Opposition’s characterisation of the legislation as unduly alarming.

“There is no devil as frightening as the one being portrayed,” he said.

Nanayakkara accused several organisations of misleading local and international stakeholders by distorting information and providing incomplete information.

“That is why such a dark and frightening devil is being created,” he said.

The Bill was gazetted on August 7. Under parliamentary procedure, a Bill is presented for its first reading one week after gazetting, after which parties have a further week to petition the Supreme Court challenging its constitutionality. The Court is required to communicate its determination to the Speaker within three to 21 days after considering such petitions.

Meanwhile, Leader of the House Bimal Ratnayake challenged the Opposition to continue its protest throughout the parliamentary sitting week.

The two measures have now entered the constitutional and legislative review process, with the proposed changes to judges’ retirement ages likely to remain a major point of contention between the Government and Opposition.