Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne today (25) endorsed the certificate on the Twenty-Second Amendment to the Constitution Bill, following its passage with the required special majority in Parliament.
The Second Reading debate on the Twenty-Second Amendment to the Constitution Bill was held in Parliament yesterday (24) and today (25), after which the Bill was passed with a special majority. Following the Speaker’s endorsement, the Bill came into force as the Twenty-Second Amendment to the Constitution.
The amendment increases the retirement age of Supreme Court judges from 65 to 67 years and the retirement age of Court of Appeal judges from 63 to 65 years.
The amendment also provides for changes to Article 137 of the Constitution, increasing the number of judges of the Court of Appeal from 19 to 24. The establishment and operation of regional Courts of Appeal is expected to help expedite the disposal of pending cases and reduce the need for litigants to travel to Colombo.
Meanwhile, Speaker Wickramaratne also endorsed the certificate on the Judicature (Amendment) Bill today. The Bill was passed by a majority vote in Parliament following the Second Reading debate held on September 24 and 25.
The Judicature (Amendment) Act increases the retirement age of High Court judges from 61 to 63 years, while the retirement age of District Judges and Magistrates has been increased from 60 to 62 years.
The amendment also increases the maximum number of High Court judges from 110 to 120. The change is intended to facilitate the establishment of additional Provincial High Courts and Provincial Civil Appellate High Courts.
Following the Speaker’s endorsement, the legislation will come into force as the Judicature (Amendment) Act, No. 23 of 2026.
