Sri Lanka government pushes judge retirement age extension, Bar Association opposes
The Sri Lankan Cabinet approved a constitutional amendment to increase the retirement age of Supreme Court judges from 65 to 67 and Court of Appeal judges from 63 to 65, and to extend the terms of High Court judges and magistrates. The proposal, prepared by the Ministry of Justice, is intended to address case backlogs but has sparked criticism over judicial independence.
The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) unanimously opposed the amendment. BASL President Rajiva Amarasuriya delivered a report to Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara, asked for a meeting with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, and warned that the change could endanger the judiciary. An internal dissent was noted when NPP council member Lal Wijenayake publicly distanced himself from the government’s plan.
The controversy highlights tension between the ruling National People’s Power (NPP) coalition and the legal profession during a period of political and economic transition.
Entities: Anura Kumara Dissanayake · Bar Association of Sri Lanka · Harshana Nanayakkara · Lal Wijenayake · National People's Power · Rajiva Amarasuriya
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] BASL President Rajiva Amarasuriya said the legal profession of the country is firmly against the amendment.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The amendment also seeks to extend the terms of High Court judges and magistrates' courts.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] BASL submitted a report to Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara and requested a meeting with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
- [DISPUTED] The Sri Lankan Cabinet approved a constitutional amendment to extend the retirement age of Supreme Court judges from 65 to 67 and Court of Appeal judges from 63 to 65.
- [DISPUTED] The Ministry of Justice will place a proposal before the Cabinet to amend the Constitution to extend judges' retirement ages by two years.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Lal Wijenayake, a member of the NPP Leadership and Executive Councils, publicly distanced himself from the government’s plan.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) unanimously opposed the proposed constitutional amendment.