22nd Constitutional Amendment Presented in Parliament Today (18)
Minister of Justice and National Integration, Attorney-at-Law Harshana Nanayakkara, yesterday (18) presented the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution and the Judicature (Amendment) Bill in Parliament.
The proposed amendments seek to extend the retirement age of Supreme Court and Court of Appeal judges by two years. The number of Court of Appeal judges is also proposed to be increased from 19 to 24.
Explaining the proposed amendments, the Minister said they form part of a broader judicial reform process aimed at improving the efficiency of the country’s judicial system. He stressed that the amendments would not have any impact on the independence of the judiciary.
The Minister further stated that amending or introducing laws, in accordance with the Constitution, the rule of law and all legal procedures, is a sovereign right of a country and reflects the mandate given to the Government by the people.
He said the Government has already launched several initiatives under a comprehensive reform programme to improve the efficiency of the judicial system. These include the establishment of seven new courts in Colombo and several courts outside Colombo, plans to recruit 2,607 personnel to the Judicial Service Commission and a further 1,000 to the Ministry of Justice, as well as ongoing recruitment to the Government Analyst’s Department.
The Government has also taken steps to improve court efficiency through measures such as facilitating the giving of evidence through online systems, he said.
Minister Nanayakkara said the Government was elected to fulfil the aspirations of the people, including reducing delays in court cases, building a more efficient judicial system and ensuring that those involved in corruption are brought before the law.
He also urged the Opposition not to create unnecessary fear or misconceptions regarding the proposed amendments and to refrain from politicising the issue.
The Minister further noted that any party has the legal right to challenge the Bill before the Supreme Court.
