Sri Lanka, Aug. 24 -- The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, arguing that the legislation poses a severe threat to the independence of the judiciary and the sovereignty of the people.

Filed by BASL President Rajeev Amarasuriya and Secretary Nalin De Silva under petition SC (SD) No. 47/2026, the legal action targets two central provisions in the bill.

Clause 2 seeks to raise the retirement age for Supreme Court judges from 65 to 67 and for Court of Appeal judges from 63 to 65-while capping the Chief Justice's tenure at six years. Clause 3 proposes expanding the Court of Appeal bench from 19 to 24 judges.

In its petition, the BASL asse...