Speaker certifies 22nd Amendment and Judicature Amendment Act

Speaker Dr Jagath Wickramaratne certified the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution on Friday (25) after Parliament passed the Bill with a special majority following a two-day debate.

The amendment raises the retirement age of Supreme Court judges from 65 to 67 and Court of Appeal judges from 63 to 65.

It also amends Article 137 of the Constitution to increase the number of Court of Appeal judges from 19 to 24.

The changes are intended to facilitate the establishment and operation of regional Courts of Appeal, allowing pending cases to be concluded more quickly and reducing the need for litigants to travel to Colombo.

The second-reading debate on the Bill was held on Thursday and Friday before it was passed by a special majority in Parliament.

With the Speaker’s certification, the Bill has come into force as the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution.

The Speaker also certified the Judicature (Amendment) Bill on Friday after it was passed by Parliament.

The legislation raises the retirement age of High Court judges from 61 to 63 and that of District Judges and Magistrates from 60 to 62.

It also amends Section 4 of the Judicature Act to increase the maximum number of High Court judges from 110 to 120, enabling the establishment of additional Provincial High Courts and Provincial Civil Appellate High Courts.

The third reading of the Judicature (Amendment) Bill was passed without amendments by a majority of 96 votes, with 158 MPs voting in favour and 62 against.

The legislation has now come into force as the Judicature (Amendment) Act, No. 23 of 2026.