Supreme Court to consider petitions challenging 22nd Amendment today

Petitions filed challenging the 22nd Constitutional Amendment Bill are scheduled to be considered before a five-judge Supreme Court bench today (01).

Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena yesterday (31) nominated the five-judge Supreme Court bench to examine the petitions, with the Chief Justice himself presiding as chairman.

The other members of the bench are Justice Achala Wengappuli, Justice Arjuna Obeyesekere, Justice Sampath Abeykoon, and Justice Gihan Kulatunga.

The bill was presented to Parliament on August 18 by Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara, with a two-week window granted to challenge it before the Supreme Court, a period which expired yesterday.

Accordingly, more than 30 petitions have been filed both in favour of and against the draft bill.