Supreme Court declines full bench hearing on 22nd Amendment petitions

The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has declined a petition requesting that a full bench of judges be constituted to hear challenges against the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution. The rejection means the cases will proceed through the standard judicial process rather than receiving consideration from the court's expanded bench.

The decision underscores the court's position on the appropriate procedural framework for addressing the constitutional challenges. Legal experts have noted that the regular bench process remains available for parties seeking judicial review of the amendments.

The 22nd Amendment, which has been the subject of significant public and legal debate, continues to face scrutiny through various petitions filed with the Supreme Court. The amendment addresses several constitutional matters that have drawn attention from civil society organizations, political parties, and individual petitioners.

With the full bench request rejected, the cases are expected to advance through conventional court hearings. The Supreme Court's decision reflects its assessment that the matters at hand do not necessitate the expanded judicial framework that a full bench arrangement would provide.

The rejection does not preclude further judicial examination of the constitutional amendments through existing legal channels, and interested parties may continue to pursue their challenges within the established court system.