# Sri Lanka advances judicial retirement age amendments > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/sri-lanka-judges-retirement-age-debate > Updated: 2026-08-23T11:55:10.000Z. Sources: 27. Developments: 16. The Sri Lankan government has moved forward with legislative efforts to extend the mandatory retirement age for senior judges. 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. The accompanying Judicature (Amendment) Bill seeks similar proportional increases for judges in lower courts, including increasing the maximum number of High Court judges from 110 to 120. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s administration defends the measures as administrative necessities to address a judicial backlog of over 1.1 million pending cases. To address opposition, the President met with the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) to discuss the proposal. However, BASL President Rajeev Amarasuriya stated the legal profession remains “firmly opposed” to the decision. Opposition has intensified, with UN Special Rapporteur Margaret Satterthwaite warning that ad hoc changes could lead to executive interference. Political figures, including Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) party, have called for a national referendum, arguing the changes affect the sovereignty of the people. The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has formally challenged the constitutionality of the 22nd Amendment in the Supreme Court (case SC/SD/31/2026), arguing that altering the tenure of serving judges threatens the separation of powers. The amendment currently awaits Supreme Court verdicts on its constitutionality before proceeding to a second reading in Parliament. ## Claims - 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 by 2 sources) - The 22nd Constitutional Amendment Bill and the Judicature Bill will be tabled in Parliament on August 18. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) unanimously opposed the proposed constitutional amendment. (corroborated by 2 sources) - A 14-day period exists after a bill is presented for it to be challenged in the Supreme Court. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The amendment also seeks to extend the terms of High Court judges and magistrates' courts. (single source) - BASL submitted a report to Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara and requested a meeting with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. (single source) - Lal Wijenayake, a member of the NPP Leadership and Executive Councils, publicly distanced himself from the government’s plan. (single source) - Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has called for a referendum on the proposed judicial retirement age extension. (single source) - UN Special Rapporteur Margaret Satterthwaite warned that the amendment could undermine judicial independence. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-23: Sri Lanka Tamil party seeks referendum on judicial tenure amendment Sri Lanka's ITAK party is demanding a national referendum on a constitutional amendment that would increase the retirement age for judges, amid concerns over judicial independence. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sri-lanka-tamil-party-seeks-referendum-on-judicial-tenure-amendment ### 2026-08-18: SJB challenges 22nd Amendment in Sri Lankan Supreme Court Sri Lanka's opposition party, the SJB, has challenged the 22nd Amendment in the Supreme Court, arguing that increasing judicial retirement ages undermines judicial independence and the separation of powers. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sjb-challenges-22nd-amendment-in-sri-lankan-supreme-court ### 2026-08-17: Sri Lanka government proposes extending judicial retirement ages Sri Lanka's government has introduced bills to extend the retirement age of judges to address a 1.1 million case backlog, sparking concerns over judicial independence and executive influence. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sri-lanka-government-proposes-extending-judicial-retirement-ages ### 2026-08-13: Sri Lanka to table 22nd Constitutional Amendment to extend judges' retirement age Sri Lanka will table the 22nd Constitutional Amendment on August 18, proposing to extend the retirement age for Supreme Court and Court of Appeal judges amid intense domestic and international opposition. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/president-dissanayake-to-proceed-with-judicial-retirement-age-amendments ### 2026-08-11: President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to meet BASL over judicial retirement age President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will meet the Bar Association of Sri Lanka to discuss controversial proposals to increase the retirement age of Supreme Court and appellate judges. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/president-anura-kumara-dissanayake-to-meet-basl-over-judicial-retirement-age ### 2026-08-08: Sri Lanka proposes raising judicial retirement age via constitutional amendment Sri Lanka has gazetted a bill to raise the retirement age of Supreme Court and Court of Appeal judges, a move the government claims will tackle case backlogs but critics warn threatens judicial independence. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sri-lanka-proposes-raising-judicial-retirement-age-via-constitutional-amendment ### 2026-08-05: Sri Lanka and India push to raise judges' retirement ages Sri Lanka plans to raise judges' retirement ages amid case backlogs, facing bar opposition; India's Supreme Court orders states to revisit similar retirement‑age reforms for judicial officers. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sri-lanka-and-india-push-to-raise-judges-retirement-ages ### 2026-08-03: Sri Lanka cabinet backs amendment to extend judges' retirement age Sri Lanka’s cabinet approved a constitutional amendment to extend judges' retirement ages, aiming to speed case resolution and relieve prison overcrowding, amid domestic opposition and an IAJ call to withdraw. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sri-lanka-president-faces-buddhist-clergy-opposition-to-judges-retirement-age-extension ### 2026-07-30: Sri Lanka Bar Association Opposes Judicial Retirement Age Extension Sri Lanka’s Bar Association and Judicial Service Association oppose a government proposal to extend judges' retirement ages, warning it could undermine judicial independence. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sri-lanka-bar-association-opposes-judicial-retirement-age-extension ### 2026-07-28: Sri Lanka government pushes judge retirement age extension, Bar Association opposes Sri Lanka's cabinet approved a constitutional amendment to raise judges' retirement ages, but the Bar Association of Sri Lanka unanimously opposed it, submitting a report to the justice minister and seeking a ‑ 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sri-lanka-bar-association-opposes-plan-to-extend-judges-tenure ### 2026-07-26: Sri Lanka MP Namal Rajapaksa calls for referendum on extending Supreme Court judges' tenure Sri Lanka MP Namal Rajapaksa says extending Supreme Court judges' tenure must be decided by a public referendum, citing constitutional importance and public distrust of the government. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sri-lanka-mp-namal-rajapaksa-calls-for-referendum-on-extending-supreme-court-judges-tenure ### 2026-07-21: Sri Lanka Bar Association protests judge retirement age extension as India Supreme Court orders interim increase Sri Lanka’s Bar Association opposes a judge retirement age hike, while India’s Supreme Court orders an interim raise to 61 years for district judges, sparking regional debates on judicial reforms. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sri-lanka-bar-association-protests-judge-retirement-age-extension-as-india-supreme-court-orders-inte ### 2026-07-11: Judges' retirement age extension proposal meets judicial and political resistance Judicial association members rejected a government's plan to extend judges' retirement age, while opposition MP Rajitha Senaratne called the move politically motivated and a threat to judicial independence. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/judges-retirement-age-extension-proposal-meets-judicial-and-political-resistance ### 2026-07-11: Sri Lanka Judicial Service Association President Pasan Amarasekara Resigns Over Retirement Age Dispute JSA president Pasan Amarasekara quit, citing a disputed meeting on extending judges’ retirement age that breached the association’s rules and lacked Judicial Service Commission approval. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sri-lanka-judicial-service-association-president-pasan-amarasekara-resigns-over-retirement-age-dispu ### 2026-07-05: Sri Lanka faces legal opposition to proposed judges' retirement age amendment Sri Lanka’s legal sector opposes a bill to raise judges' retirement age, citing risks to judicial independence; experts urge transparent consultation, referencing Zimbabwe’s precedent. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sri-lanka-faces-legal-opposition-to-proposed-judges-retirement-age-amendment ### 2026-07-03: Sri Lanka faces legal backlash over plan to extend judges' retirement age Sri Lanka's proposal to extend judges' retirement age draws criticism from the Colombo Law Society and Commonwealth Lawyers' chief, who warn it could damage judicial independence and public trust. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sri-lanka-faces-legal-backlash-over-plan-to-extend-judges-retirement-age --- Cite as: Sri Lanka advances judicial retirement age amendments. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/sri-lanka-judges-retirement-age-debate