Parliament today approved the Second Reading of the Twenty-Second Amendment to the Constitution Bill by a two-thirds majority, with 158 Members of Parliament voting in favour and 63 voting against.
The vote followed the continuation of the Second Reading debate on the proposed constitutional amendment, which was taken up in Parliament on Thursday and Friday. Parliament had scheduled the vote for today following the conclusion of the debate.
The Supreme Court had earlier determined that the 22nd Amendment Bill did not require approval at a referendum and could be passed by a special two-thirds majority in Parliament. The Supreme Court determination was formally communicated to Parliament by Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne on September 22.
Among the key proposals in the Bill are increasing the retirement age of Supreme Court judges from 65 to 67 and that of Court of Appeal judges from 63 to 65. It also proposes increasing the maximum number of Court of Appeal judges from 19 to 24.
The Bill further provides that the Chief Justice would retire upon reaching 67 years or completing six years from the date of appointment. The Supreme Court directed a specific amendment to the provision concerning the six-year limit, including an exemption for the person holding the office of Chief Justice when the Act comes into operation.
The Government has said the proposed changes are part of broader judicial reforms aimed at improving the efficiency of the justice system and expediting the disposal of cases. Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara, while presenting the Bill, said the amendments were intended to support faster and more effective administration of justice.
The Bill had faced opposition and scrutiny from opposition parties and legal groups, particularly over the proposed changes to the retirement ages of Superior Court judges. The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Governance, Justice and Civil Protection approved the Bill and the related Judicature (Amendment) Bill earlier this week.
The separate Judicature (Amendment) Bill, which deals with the retirement ages and number of judges in lower courts, can be passed by a simple majority according to the Supreme Court's determination.
