Sri Lanka Supreme Court Reviews Disputed Judicial Retirement Bill

The Government of Sri Lanka is seeking to pass the 22nd Amendment to the constitution, which would raise the retirement age for Supreme Court judges from 65 to 67 and Court of Appeal judges from 63 to 65. The proposal also aims to increase the maximum number of Court of Appeal judges from 19 to 24. Government officials argue these changes are necessary to retain judicial experience and resolve significant case delays.

The legislation, submitted by the government of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has faced strong opposition. Hundreds of activists and lawmakers protested in Colombo, claiming the reforms are a political attempt to manipulate the judiciary. The Bar Association of Sri Lanka specifically raised concerns regarding judicial independence and the transparency of appointments, noting that vacancies already exist within the Supreme Court.

Opposition lawmaker Ajith Perera characterized the amendment as a measure against the wishes of the people. Despite these protests, the ruling National People's Power party holds more than two-thirds of the seats in Parliament, providing the threshold necessary to pass the amendment. The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka is currently reviewing the constitutional validity of the proposal, a process that will determine if the bill can proceed or if it requires a public referendum.