Srilanka, Sept. 1 -- The Supreme Court today (01) rejected a request to appoint a full bench of Supreme Court justices to hear petitions challenging the 22nd Constitutional Amendment Bill.



The decision was delivered by a five-member bench headed by Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, as the court commenced hearing 67 petitions filed against the proposed 22nd constitutional amendment.



After considering submissions from the parties, the bench ruled that the petitions would continue to be heard by the existing five-judge bench.



The 22nd Constitutional Amendment Bill, which proposes changes relating to the retirement age of judges of the superior courts, was presented to Parliament for its first reading on August 18, one week ...