President of the Commonwealth Lawyers' Association, Steven Thiru, said that he attended the Supreme Court proceedings today (02) concerning petitions filed in relation to the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, to observe the hearing.
Steven Thiru said he had also spoken with several members of the legal profession regarding concerns surrounding the case.
Speaking to the media, Thiru said one of the concerns raised by members of the Bar was why a larger or full bench had not been appointed to hear the case, given its significance to judicial independence.
He noted that cases concerning important constitutional and judicial matters are usually heard by larger benches, and said he had been informed that a request for a larger bench had been rejected.
Thiru questioned the reasons for not empanelling a larger or full bench, describing it as a matter of concern in relation to the independence of the judiciary.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court today (02) concluded the hearing of petitions filed challenging the constitutionality of the 22nd Amendment Bill to the Constitution, which was recently presented to Parliament by the Government.
Following the conclusion of the hearing, the Supreme Court stated that its confidential determination on the constitutionality of the Bill will be conveyed to the Speaker of Parliament.
A five-member Supreme Court bench, headed by Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, issued the order after considering the petitions challenging the Bill, the submissions made by lawyers appearing for the petitioners, those supporting the Bill, and the Attorney General.
The bench also directed the parties to take steps to file their written submissions pertaining to the petitions by 3.00 p.m. tomorrow (03).
The Supreme Court commenced hearing the petitions yesterday (01), with proceedings continuing today before the five-member bench.
A total of 67 petitions have been filed challenging the constitutionality of the proposed 22nd Amendment. The petitions were filed after the Government presented the Constitution Amendment Bill to Parliament on August 18.
Following the publication of the Bill in the Gazette, the public was given an opportunity to challenge the proposed legislation before the Supreme Court.
The 67 Special Determination petitions make the proposed 22nd Amendment one of the most extensively challenged constitutional amendments in Sri Lanka’s recent history.
