Sri Lanka's Supreme Court has begun hearing 14 petitions challenging the constitutionality of the proposed Anti-Corruption (Amendment) Bill.
The petitions are being considered before a three-judge bench comprising Justices Shiran Gunaratne, Mahinda Samayawardhena and Sampath Wijeratne.
The proposed legislation seeks to amend Sri Lanka's Anti-Corruption Act No. 9 of 2023.
Among those who have challenged the Bill is former Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, while Transparency International Sri Lanka has also filed a petition against proposed provisions.
Petitioners have raised constitutional objections to several parts of the Bill.
They argue, among other matters, that some proposed provisions could affect fundamental rights, the sovereignty of the people, access to information and existing safeguards within Sri Lanka's anti-corruption framework.
Some petitioners have asked the Supreme Court to determine that contested provisions cannot become law through an ordinary parliamentary majority and instead require approval by a two-thirds majority in Parliament and approval by the people at a referendum.
These are the arguments and relief sought by the petitioners.
The Supreme Court has not yet issued its determination on the constitutionality of the Bill.
Transparency International Sri Lanka has separately identified several provisions it is challenging.
These include proposed changes affecting judicial oversight when deciding whether to refrain from prosecuting accomplices, the state-shareholding threshold used for certain asset-declaration requirements, disclosure relating to cohabitants, access to information contained in asset declarations, and bail-related provisions.
Those objections similarly represent the petitioner's constitutional case and should not be presented as findings already made by the Supreme Court.
The Anti-Corruption Amendment Bill was presented to Parliament in August.
The Supreme Court's constitutional review will determine whether provisions challenged before it are consistent with the Constitution and, where applicable, whether any provision requires a special parliamentary majority or approval at a referendum before it can become law.
Until that determination is made public through the constitutional process, no conclusion should be drawn about whether the challenged provisions are constitutional or unconstitutional.
Hearings conclude; written submissions due September 7
5 September 2026 update: The Supreme Court has concluded oral hearings on petitions challenging the constitutionality of the proposed Anti-Corruption (Amendment) Bill.
The hearings concluded on September 4, 2026.
Following the oral submissions, the Court directed the relevant parties to file their written submissions by September 7.
The Supreme Court's determination will thereafter be communicated through the constitutional process.
The petitions were heard before a three-judge bench comprising Justices Shiran Goonaratne, Mahinda Samayawardhena and Sampath Wijeratne.
During the proceedings, submissions were made both in support of and against the constitutionality of provisions in the proposed legislation.
Additional Solicitor General Nerin Pulle, appearing for the Attorney General, also presented submissions to the Court.
The conclusion of hearings does not mean that the Court's determination has been publicly announced.
The content of the determination should therefore not be predicted or characterised before it is formally communicated through the constitutional process.
Sineth News previously reported the existing case as involving 14 petitions. Some subsequent court reporting has referred to a different petition count. Sineth News is not revising the historical count unless an authoritative court or official record resolves that discrepancy.