COLOMBO — President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has signaled a major legislative push against corruption, confirming that the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution is poised to move forward in Parliament as soon as the Supreme Court delivers its determination to the Speaker.
Addressing a large public rally in Bulathsinghala on Friday, President Dissanayake framed the upcoming constitutional changes as a vital instrument in the government’s broader mission to strengthen national integrity and combat systemic corruption. The move is widely seen as a cornerstone of the administration’s governance agenda, aimed at closing legal loopholes that have historically hampered accountability.
The President emphasized that the legislative push is only one facet of a comprehensive effort to overhaul the country’s judicial machinery. He announced that the government has initiated several strategic interventions to expedite the processing of criminal and civil cases, which have long been criticized for their sluggish pace. These measures include the large-scale recruitment of additional judicial service personnel, the establishment of new High Courts to alleviate the current caseload, and systemic improvements within the Government Analyst’s Department to accelerate the delivery of forensic reports.
Acknowledging the frustration of the public regarding the slow pace of justice, the President noted that a significant number of cases had languished in the court system for 15 to 20 years. He explained that the current spike in arrests is a direct consequence of finally addressing this massive backlog of unresolved legal matters.
“Some claim that we are carrying out political revenge,” Dissanayake said, addressing critics who have questioned the nature of recent high-profile arrests. “If there had been no backlog of cases, there would not be this many arrests.”
The President maintained that the current judicial activity is a corrective necessity rather than a politically motivated vendetta. He argued that the stagnation of the legal system over the past two decades has fostered an environment of impunity, which his administration is now working to dismantle by ensuring that the wheels of justice turn more efficiently.
Legal experts and political analysts are closely monitoring the 22nd Amendment, which is expected to tighten oversight mechanisms and bolster the independence of anti-corruption bodies. While the Supreme Court is currently reviewing the constitutional validity of the proposed amendment, the President’s remarks at the Bulathsinghala rally indicate a high level of confidence that the legislation will pass swiftly once the court’s determination is received.
As the government continues its drive to clear the backlog, the focus remains on whether these structural changes will lead to successful prosecutions in long-standing corruption cases. For now, the administration is doubling down on its commitment to judicial reform, asserting that a more robust legal framework is the only way to restore public trust in the state.
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