No positive response from President on 22nd Amendment: Lal Wijenayake

18-Aug-2026

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National People’s Power member and senior lawyer Lal Wijenayake told Virakesari that he had received no positive response from President Anura Kumara Dissanayake regarding the 22nd Amendment Bill aimed at increasing the retirement age of judges.

Wijenayake made the remarks while commenting on a meeting between the Bar Association of Sri Lanka and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. He had participated in the meeting as part of the delegation of senior lawyers representing the Bar Association.

He further said:

“We requested President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to suspend, for the time being, the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution published in the Gazette, which seeks to increase the retirement age of all judges by two years, particularly targeting judges of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal.

“However, he did not agree to our request. According to him, the move is being undertaken with the objective of reforming the judiciary.

“We then adopted a flexible approach and requested that, if the Government was unable to withdraw the Gazette notification and suspend the process, it should at least temporarily postpone the proposed constitutional amendment and establish a committee comprising all stakeholders to conduct a broad discussion on the matter.

“However, he was not prepared to agree to that request either.

“In this context, President Anura Kumara is citing matters relating to the Easter Sunday attacks as reasons for increasing the retirement age of judges. Those reasons cannot be accepted.

“He did not provide any positive response taking into consideration our position and concerns regarding the 22nd Amendment Bill.”