BASL strongly opposes 22nd Amendment, says referendum requiredPosted by Onlanka News Desk on August 12, 2026 - 7:55 amThe Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has strongly opposed the proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, warning that it threatens judicial independence and can only be enacted with public approval at a referendum. The main purpose of the proposed amendment is to extend the retirement ages of judges of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal. However, the BASL said it is unclear how extending judges’ retirement ages would help achieve those objectives. According to the BASL, stakeholders in the legal profession, including the Bar Association and the Judicial Service Association, have unanimously opposed the amendment, arguing that it amounts to direct interference with judicial independence. The Association therefore once again strongly reiterated its opposition to the proposed constitutional amendment.