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The bill titled the ‘Twenty-second Amendment to the Constitution’ was published in a gazette notification, as ordered by the President.
Justice Minister Wijedasa Rajapaksha had ordered the Secretary of the Ministry of Justice not to proceed with the gazatte notification but now it seems that the Secretary has been over ruled and Wickranasingha has taken things to his hand.
The relevant gazette notification was issued on July 18, 2024 to amend Article 83 (b) of the Constitution. According to Clause 2 of the Bill, Article 83 (b) of the Constitution is amended by the substitution for the words “to over six years,” to the words “to over five years.”
The Lawyers’ Collective, a prominent legal advocacy group in Sri Lanka had criticised the proposed Twenty-Second Amendment to the Constitution Bill, as an attempt to manipulate the electoral process.
The Lawyers’ Collective stated that the legal effect of this amendment would be that a bill that seeks to extend the term of office of the President or the duration of Parliament to over five years would require a two-thirds majority in Parliament and the approval of the people at a Referendum.
The Lawyers’ Collective reiterated that there is no urgency whatsoever in lowering the upper limit of the terms of the President and Parliament and it urges all democratic forces to oppose it.
