The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has initiated discussions with legal experts to challenge the proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution following the official publication of the draft bill in the Government Gazette.
Sri Lanka's main parliamentary opposition party joined forces with the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) to oppose the gazetted legislation, which aims to extend the retirement ages of superior court judges across the island.
Under the provisions approved by the Cabinet of Ministers on 27 July, the retirement age for Supreme Court judges will rise from 65 to 67 years, while Court of Appeal judges will see their tenure extended from 63 to 65 years.
The amendment also mandates that the Chief Justice must step down upon reaching the age of 67 or after serving six years in office, depending on which milestone occurs first.
Speaking on the party's strategy, SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara stated that the opposition had maintained a consistent stance against the proposal from its inception.
He said that the party was holding regular consultations with legal counsel to evaluate potential court challenges while simultaneously planning public demonstrations, political campaigns, and protest rallies to mobilize popular pressure against the government.
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