Sri Lanka to table 22nd Constitutional Amendment to extend judges' retirement age

22nd Constitutional Amendment judicial retirement age Sri Lanka judiciary judicial independence constitutional reform

The Sri Lankan government plans to table the 22nd Constitutional Amendment Bill and the Judicature Bill in Parliament on Tuesday, August 18. The proposed amendment seeks to extend the mandatory retirement age for Supreme Court judges from 65 to 67 and for Court of Appeal judges from 63 to 65.

The move has faced significant opposition from the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), opposition political parties, religious leaders, and international organizations. UN Special Rapporteur Margaret Satterthwaite warned that the changes could undermine judicial independence and public confidence. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has called for a national referendum on the matter, arguing that the extension could allow the government to influence judicial rulings.

Following the tabling of the bill, a 14-day period will allow for legal challenges to be filed in the Supreme Court. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has met with legal representatives to discuss the government's position on these judicial reforms.

Entities

Anura Kumara Dissanayake · Bar Association of Sri Lanka · Court of Appeal of Sri Lanka · Harshana Nanayakkara · Parliament of Sri Lanka · Sajith Premadasa · Sri Lanka · Supreme Court of Sri Lanka

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 4 SOURCES] The amendment proposes increasing the Supreme Court judges' retirement age from 65 to 67 and Court of Appeal judges' from 63 to 65. athavannews.com · lankanewsweb.net · www.newswire.lk
[○ 1 SOURCE] Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has called for a referendum on the proposed judicial retirement age extension. www.newswire.lk
[● 3 SOURCES] The 22nd Constitutional Amendment Bill and the Judicature Bill will be tabled in Parliament on August 18. athavannews.com · www.lankanewspapers.com · www.newswire.lk
[○ 1 SOURCE] UN Special Rapporteur Margaret Satterthwaite warned that the amendment could undermine judicial independence. www.newswire.lk
[● 2 SOURCES] A 14-day period exists after a bill is presented for it to be challenged in the Supreme Court. athavannews.com · www.newswire.lk