The deadline for filing petitions challenging or supporting the 22nd Constitutional Amendment Bill will end tomorrow (31).

Nearly 30 petitions have reportedly been filed so far, both in support of and against the Bill.

The 22nd Constitutional Amendment Bill was presented to Parliament on August 18 by Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara.

Opposition political parties have filed petitions against the Bill, while the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), several other lawyers’ associations and civil society organizations have also challenged it before the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, several parties, including government MP Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi, have filed petitions in support of the Bill.

All parties that have filed petitions against the 22nd Constitutional Amendment have decided to submit a special motion to the Supreme Court tomorrow, former MP Prof. G.L. Peiris said.

Speaking at a joint opposition seminar in Galle, Prof. Peiris said the petitioners would argue that the matter should not be decided solely by the Supreme Court, claiming that Supreme Court judges could directly benefit from the proposed amendment.

He said the petitioners would therefore request that the matter be referred to the people through a referendum, allowing the public to decide whether the proposed amendment should proceed.