Judges' retirement age extension proposal meets judicial and political resistance

A special meeting of the Judicial Service Association was held on July 11, during which 65 judges voted unanimously to oppose the government's constitutional amendment to raise the retirement age of Supreme Court and Court of Appeal judges by two years. Critics argue the meeting lacked a proper quorum and question its legality, while the association's president resigned over concerns about the process.

Opposition MP and former health minister Rajitha Senaratne accused the proposal of being a political move designed to keep opposition figures in office and suppress dissent, calling it a step toward a dictatorial government. He urged the public and the judiciary to protect judicial independence amid accusations that the amendment aims to extend the current chief justice's term without public consultation.