22nd Amendment defeated among the people despite parliamentary victory: Dayasiri Jayasekara

28-Sep-2026

.

The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution has been passed in Parliament, but it has suffered a defeat among the people, United People’s Power (SJB) Kurunegala District MP Dayasiri Jayasekara said.

He said the people would know whether the 1.1 million pending cases would be heard within two years or whether an agenda of political victimisation would be given priority.

He made these remarks at a media briefing held in the Kurunegala area on September 26, 2026.

He further said:

The 22nd Amendment Bill to the Constitution and the Judiciary (Amendment) Bill were passed with a majority of 95 votes. The Government has won in Parliament on this matter. However, it has suffered a defeat among the people.

The Government acted in great haste to extend the tenure of judges. It did not engage in any transparent discussions. Those who pointed out the shortcomings in these Bills and warned of their possible consequences in the future were portrayed as offenders.

The President said that those on bail and suspects were the ones opposing the two Bills. If that is the case, the President should state whether the Mahanayake Theras, the Bar Association, the Commonwealth Lawyers Association and the Special Rapporteur of the United Nations are persons on bail or suspects.

The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution and the Judiciary (Amendment) Act are now in force in the country. The people will be able to see whether the 1.1 million cases pending before the courts will be completed within these two years or whether an agenda of political victimisation will be given priority.

No member of the Opposition has opposed taking legal action against corruption and those involved in corruption. However, legal proceedings should not be based on a political agenda. Such actions would have an indirect impact on democracy, he said.