The Samagi Jana Balawegaya and several other political groups held a protest in Colombo on Thursday against the proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, NewsFirst reported.
The demonstration took place in front of the Fort Railway Station and drew opposition politicians, party activists and supporters, who carried placards and banners and spoke against the amendment from a stage.
Representatives of the United National Party also took part, alongside other groups. NewsFirst noted that those attending included individuals who are currently on bail, and reported that participants were seen greeting one another, posing for photographs and taking selfies — moments it described as contrasting with the message being delivered from the platform.
The government says the amendment is aimed at expediting court proceedings and improving judicial efficiency.
What the amendment does, and where it stands
The 22nd Amendment would raise the retirement age of Supreme Court judges from 65 to 67 and of Court of Appeal judges from 63 to 65.
It is already the subject of an extensive legal challenge. A five-judge bench of the Supreme Court concluded its hearing of the petitions against the Bill on September 2, with its determination to go to the Speaker. The SJB is among the parties that petitioned the court, along with the Bar Association of Sri Lanka and Sarvajana Balaya.
Opposition to the amendment has come from well beyond the political parties. The Bar Association filed a motion seeking a full bench, more than 40 trade unions joined the BASL in a joint statement, and the Commonwealth Lawyers Association raised concerns about the composition of the bench. The government has said repeatedly that it will not withdraw the Bill, and Cabinet spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa this week responded to opposition calls for a referendum.
Not reported
NewsFirst did not name any of the politicians who attended or spoke, give a crowd estimate, say how long the protest lasted, or report whether police imposed any restrictions or whether traffic in Fort was affected. It did not identify the other political groups that took part, or the individuals it described as being on bail. No other verified newsroom had reported the protest at the time of writing.
