By Shamindra Ferdinando

General Secretary of the National People’s Power (NPP) Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe says that in spite of the position taken by NPP Executive member Lal Wijenayake in respect of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, the party believes the senior lawyer will remain with them.

Advocate Wijenayake is among almost 65 petitioners against the controversial constitutional amendment. In response to a query raised by The Island  regarding the developing situation, Dr. Abeysinghe, MP, said that he wouldn’t challenge Wijenayake though the dissident was aware the party took a collective decision regarding the 22nd Amendment. “We won’t say anything against his decision,” the National List MP said, acknowledging Wijenayake’s right to hold a personal view regarding the issue.

The 73-member NPP Executive Committee consists of political figures, professionals, trade union activists, artists, writers, and representatives from the 21 constituent groups forming the ruling alliance

Dr. Abeysinghe, a retired head of the Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry, emphasised that Wijenayake, however, failed to secure any support within the party. “Nobody else is with him and we have not and we will not influence him. It is his democratic right. If he wishes, he can continue to be with us. This is one issue among many issues confronting us. I’m sure he still wants to be with us.”

The 22nd Amendment proposed increasing the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court judges’ retirement ages from 63 to 65 and from 65 to 67, respectively.

The NPP General Secretary reiterated their commitment to the 22nd Amendment, now before a five-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena. Other members are Justices Achala Wengappuli, Arjuna Obeyesekere, Sampath Abeykoon and Gihan Kulatunga.

The hearing of petitions commenced yesterday (01). The process to examine the constitutionality of the 22nd Amendment will take place over the next three weeks and the Supreme Court determination will be sent to Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremarratne.

Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara presented the 22nd Constitutional Amendment Bill to Parliament on 18 August and the public were given an opportunity to file petitions challenging or supporting the Bill. While 65 petitions were filed against the 22nd Amendment, the Supreme Court received three petitions in support of the same. NPP Colombo District lawmaker Lakshaman Nipunarachchi, New Sinhala Heritage leader Sarath Manamendra, and K. Sarath Lal Perera, General Secretary of the National Organisation for the Protection of Retired Persons Rights filed petitions declaring that the amendment could be passed without a referendum.

Sarath Manamendra has contested presidential elections on more than one occasion, including the last held in September 2024, won by Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

Among those who filed petitions against the 22nd Amendment were Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) whose leader Dinesh Gunawardena served as the Prime Minister during Ranil Wickremesinghe tenure as the President, from July 2022 to September 2024. The MEP central committee member and trade union leader Jayantha Vilegoda filed the petition, under the advice of MEP General Secretary and advocate Thissa Yapa Jayawardena.

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), in addition to its petition against the 22nd Amendment, filed a separate motion requesting Chief Justice Surasena’s recusal from the petition hearing as he was the first beneficiary of the said Amendment.

Both the UNP and its breakaway faction the SJB filed petitions against the Amendment, while the civil society, too, backed the Bar Association’s position. Convener of Purawesi Balaya Gamini Viyangoda and Executive Director of Centre for Policy Alternatives Dr. Pakiasothy Saravanamuttu moved the Supreme Court requesting a referendum.

The NPP proposed the 22nd Amendment to increase the retirement ages of superior court judges and the corresponding Judicature (Amendment) Bill to increase the retirement ages of judges across various court levels, including the High Court.

Although nearly 70 petitions were filed against and for the 22nd Amendment Bill, not a single petition was filed in respect of the Judicature (Amendment) Bill. In line with the Judicature (Amendment) Bill, the retirement age of High Court judges will increase from 61 to 63 years whereas retirement ages of District Court and Magistrate’s Court Judges will increase to 62 years.

Those who promised an unprecedented system change in the run-up to the 2024 national elections are now seeking to take charge of the judiciary, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has said.

Premadasa said so recently at the Diploma Awarding ceremony of the D.S. Senanayake Political Education Academy (DSSPA), a political training institute, affiliated with the SJB.

Comparing the post-Aragalaya administration (2022 to 2024) with the incumbent government, MP Premadasa said that the previous government, too, squeezed public life and compressed democracy. The SJB leader alleged that the NPP’s performance had been so pathetic it even neglected the farming community who exercised their franchise in support of the NPP.

Contrary to often repeated assurances to restore public confidence in governance, the NPP has ended up an utterly undemocratic establishment promoting the interests of the super-rich cohabitating with it.

Declaring that the country gradually achieved economic targets since receiving independence in 1948, MP Premadasa said no one could deny accomplishments made during this period, though questions remained with regard to the speed at which we achieved them.

The Opposition Leader stressed the difficulties, Sri Lanka currently experienced, should be examined, taking into consideration the much talked about Singapore achieving developed status while Sri Lanka deteriorated over the past decades. Premadasa called the NPP administration the worst in the post-independence era while declaring development couldn’t be achieved through a socialist system.

Commenting on the economic model suitable for the country, MP Premadasa said that former Presidents JRJ and Ranasinghe Premadasa followed the middle path. Referring to the Mahaweli Development Programme and Gam Udawa, implemented by Jayawardene and Premadasa, respectively, the Opposition Leader underscored the importance of right and leftwing policies to suit the times.

The SJB leader said that the Chapter on Fundamental Rights, in the 1978 Constitution, should be altered to accommodate economic, social, cultural, education and health rights, in addition to enshrined civil and political rights. The lawmaker pointed out that the world, after the end of World War II, in 1945, focused on civil and political rights. Premadasa said that the Chapter on Fundamental Rights should be amended to grant the public the right to challenge violation of economic, social, cultural, education and health rights. (SF)

Shani elevated as DIG in charge of CID

SSP Roshan Amarasinghe had been appointed Director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the Police Media Division said.

The appointment had been made on the instructions of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) in view of service requirements, police said.

Amarasinghe was promoted following the elevation of former CID Director Shani Abeysekara to the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG).

Police said Abeysekara would continue to oversee the CID.

SSP Amarasinghe previously served as Director of the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID).