Sri Lanka government proposes extending judicial retirement ages

The Sri Lankan government has introduced constitutional amendments to extend the retirement age of judges, a move that has drawn significant criticism from legal professionals and opposition parties. Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara presented the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Bill, which proposes raising the retirement age for Supreme Court judges from 65 to 67 and Court of Appeal judges from 63 to 65. Additionally, the Judicature (Amendment) Bill seeks to extend retirement ages for judges in other courts.

Government officials defend the legislation as an administrative necessity to address a massive judicial backlog of over 1.1 million cases. Proponents argue that retaining experienced judicial talent will benefit the legal system. However, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, the Judicial Service Association, and the Commonwealth Lawyers’ Association have expressed strong opposition.

Critics argue the move constitutes a “direct assault on the independence of the country’s judiciary,” claiming it could allow the executive branch to manipulate court functions and undermine the separation of powers. There are also concerns that extending tenure may prevent younger legal professionals from advancing. The opposition has two weeks to file objections with the Supreme Court, with parliamentary debates expected by late September.