20A becomes law; Speaker certifies Bill

• Bill inclusive of amendments sent to Speaker for certification
• Among last minute amendments to Bill was to increase number of judges in SC and CA

The 20th Amendment to the Constitution came into effect from yesterday after Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena certified the Bill.

The final version of the Bill inclusive of the amendments moved at the Committee Stage was sent to the Speaker for certification, following which the Bill became law.

Among the last-minute amendments moved to the Bill is to increase the number of judges on the Supreme Court from 11 to 16 and the Court of Appeal (CA) from 11 to 19.

Justice Minister Ali Sabry said the decision to increase the number of judges was to deal with law delays in the country.

“There are 4,000 cases before the Supreme Court. There are 4,000 cases in the Court of Appeal. There is only a very limited number of judges to take up all these cases. From 1978, the number of judges has not increased in our country. In India, since 1978, they have increased the number of judges thrice. We brought in an amendment to solve this issue,” he said, during the Committee Stage debate of the Bill. However, concerns about the amendment were raised by SJB MP Rauff Hakeem, who said the effect of 20A on this amendment would change the composition of the SC and CA. “This will affect the dispensation of justice in the country as the President will have the power to appoint the judges as the Parliamentary Council is only a rubber stamp,” he said.

The Bill was passed in the House on 22 October with 156 MPs voting in favour and 65 against.