{
  "id": 9869407,
  "title": "Birth of a bad law",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/birth-of-a-bad-law",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-25T23:56:20.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Island Sri Lanka",
    "slug": "the-island-sri-lanka",
    "url": "http://island.lk/birth-of-a-bad-law/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Saturday, September 26th, 2026, the parliamentary vote on the 22nd Amendment (22A) to the Constitution concluded as expected. With a two-thirds majority, the amendment passed, increasing the mandatory retirement ages of Supreme Court and Court of Appeal judges. Despite the special majority, critics argue that 22A remains a poor law. The ruling National Party (NPP) showed no dissent among its MPs, although not every member was fully supportive of the controversial amendment. However, there were no expectations that 22A would be placed before voters in a referendum, as the government feared facing elections.\n\nPresident Anura Kumara Dissanayake, known for his ability to predict judicial decisions, received criticism from the Opposition, who suggested that he comes from the same district as Gnanakka, a revered seeress for SLPP leaders. Despite the government's attempts to push 22A through, the Bar Association, Opposition political parties, and civil society groups resorted to moral persuasion, urging MPs to vote based on their conscience. It is ironic, though, that politicians often prioritize expediency over personal beliefs.\n\nThe passage of 22A has emboldened the Opposition, leading to increased protests against the government. The SLPP and the SJB have staged successful rallies, signaling that the Opposition will likely extend its demonstrations to address other concerns as well. The government now faces a dilemma: cracking down on dissent could backfire, while appeasing the Opposition will only spur further protests.\n\nThe legal community, which played a crucial role in the 2024 regime change, is not pleased with 22A. Doctors, university teachers, and other professionals who supported the JVP/NPP are also expressing their discontent. Furthermore, farmers are struggling with low crop prices, and several government officials, including the Minister of Agriculture and his deputy, had to skip President Dissanayake's inaugural farmers' rally in Polonnaruwa.\n\nWhile 22A aimed to consolidate the government's power, its implementation has brought both the government and judiciary under heightened international scrutiny. Zimbabwe, which has faced similar challenges, serves as a cautionary tale. The JVP/NPP did not seek to emulate Zimbabwe's situation, did they?",
  "summary": "Saturday 26th September, 2026 The outcome of yesterday’s parliamentary vote on the 22nd Amendment (22A) to the Constitution came as no surprise. The ayes had it with a two-thirds majority. Now, the Speaker will sign the 22A bill into law posthaste, increasing the mandatory retirement ages of the judges of the Supreme Court and the […]",
  "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."
}