The Supreme Court today commenced hearings on nine Special Determination petitions filed challenging the constitutionality of the 22nd amendment to the constitution.
A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, Justice Buwaneka and Justice Arjuna Obeysekera fixed the further hearing of the petitions for tomorrow (23).
President’s Counsel Manohara de Silva, appearing for retired army officer Anil Sumedha Amarasekara, submitted to the court that the executive powers vested in the President cannot be curtailed through a constitutional amendment.
Attorney-at-law Nagananda Kodituwakku, who also filed a petition against the 22nd amendment, stated that the proposed amendment has given powers to the President to appoint judges to the apex courts, undermining the rule of law in the country.
Nine petitioners, including Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekara, Attorney-at-law Nagananda, and Nuwan Bellanthudawa, filed these petitions naming the Attorney General as respondent. The petitioners are seeking a declaration that the bill, in whole or in part, thereby requires the approval of the people at a referendum and requires a two-thirds majority in Parliament.
