22nd proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill gazette

09-Aug-2026

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The proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, which seeks to extend the retirement age of judges, was gazetted on August 7.

According to the Gazette notification issued on the instructions of Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara, the proposed amendment to Article 107(5) of the Constitution would set the retirement age of Supreme Court judges at 67 and that of Court of Appeal judges at 65.

The proposed amendment further states that the retirement date of the Chief Justice shall be the date on which the Chief Justice reaches the age of 67 or completes six years from the date of appointment as Chief Justice, whichever occurs first.

Similarly, under the proposed amendment to Article 137 of the Constitution, the words “not exceeding 19” in relation to the number of judges of the Court of Appeal would be replaced with “not exceeding 24”.

Accordingly, the Court of Appeal would consist of the President of the Court of Appeal and not fewer than six and not more than 24 other judges.