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Sri Lanka judges retirement age amendment

Updated 2 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-07-29 21:28 UTC → 2026-07-30 22:48 UTC · added removed

Sri Lanka judges retirement age debate amendment

In early July 2026 the Sri Lankan government announced a constitutional amendment to raise the mandatory retirement age for Supreme Court judges from 65 to 67 and for Court of Appeal judges from 63 to 65, with similar extensions for High Court judges and magistrates. Legal bodies, including the Colombo Law Society, the Commonwealth Lawyers’ Association and the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), warned that the change could undermine judicial independence and public confidence, citing the Zimbabwe precedent. independence. On 11 July, the Judicial Service Association held a special meeting; 65 judges voted unanimously to oppose the amendment, and its president Pasan Amarasekara resigned over alleged procedural violations. Opposition MP Rajitha Senaratne called the proposal a political maneuver manoeuvre to extend the current chief justice’s term. The Bar Association escalated its protest on 21 July, urging the government to fill eight vacant senior‑court seats before any age change. The same That week, Indian courts discussed extending district judges’ retirement age, highlighting a regional debate. On 26 July, SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Rajapaksa demanded a national referendum on any extension of judges’ tenure, referendum, linking the issue to broader wider public grievances over taxes, living costs, fertilizer shortages and crime. Two days later, the grievances. The Cabinet formally approved the amendment. amendment on 27 July, arguing that retaining experienced judges would help clear case backlogs. BASL President Rajiva Amarasuriya delivered a unanimous opposition report to Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara, requested a meeting with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Dissanayake and warned that the change could endanger the judiciary. An internal split emerged was noted when NPP council member Lal Wijenayake publicly dissociated himself from the plan, underscoring plan. On 29 July BASL passed a resolution at a special general meeting urging the President, Parliament and the Ministry of Justice to uphold the Constitution and judicial independence. A BASL delegation met with Justice and National Integration Minister Nanayakkara, demanding a transparent, widely consulted amendment process. The episode highlights growing tension between the ruling National People’s Power coalition and the legal profession during amid Sri Lanka’s political and economic transition.

Versions

  1. 2026-07-30 22:48 UTC Sri Lanka judges retirement age amendment
  2. 2026-07-29 21:28 UTC Sri Lanka judges retirement age debate
  3. 2026-07-26 11:26 UTC Sri Lanka judges retirement age debate

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