{
  "id": 204609,
  "title": "NPP still can give up messy project to enact controversial constitutional amendment – Lal",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/06/npp-still-can-give-up-messy-project-to-enact-controversial",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-06T00:05:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Island Sri Lanka",
    "slug": "the-island-sri-lanka",
    "url": "http://island.lk/npp-still-can-give-up-messy-project-to-enact-controversial-constitutional-amendment-lal/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "NPP official Lal Wijenayake stated that his ruling party could still abandon the damaging constitutional amendment proposal to extend judges' retirement ages. Responding to queries from The Island, Wijenayake, a member of the NPP's Leadership Council, said he would not support the government's move under any circumstances. He highlighted the International Association of Judges' (IAJ) statement, which underscored international concerns over the matter. Wijenayake pointed out that Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa had cited the 2022 Supreme Court judgment to emphasize that retirement ages of superior court judges could not be altered without a referendum. The government should address the problems created by their actions, he said. When asked if he would quit the NPP's Leadership Council, Wijenayake stated that there was no need, as the ruling party had not asked him to do so. He served two other party bodies. A bench with five or more judges could overrule a decision made by a three-judge bench, and there was a possibility of seeking a fuller Bench, sources familiar with the legal process told The Island. Wijenayake emphasized that overruling the 2022 Supreme Court judgment could have a harmful impact on the NPP, stating that taking tangible remedial measures shouldn't be viewed as taking a step backwards.",
  "summary": "Bid to extend judges’ retirement ages By Shamindra Ferdinando Top NPP official Lal Wijenayake yesterday (05) said that his ruling party could still abandon the utterly damaging bid to introduce a constitutional amendment to extend the retirement ages of Supreme Court and Court of Appeal judges. Member of the NPP’s Leadership Council Wijenayake said so […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}