Sri Lankan President Faces Backlash Over Judicial Retirement Proposal

A proposal by the administration of Anura Kumara Dissanayake to increase the retirement age of Supreme Court and Court of Appeal judges by two years has sparked widespread condemnation from legal professionals and political allies. Critics argue the move could allow the government to manipulate the composition of the bench to serve political interests, thereby undermining judicial independence and the separation of powers.

The controversy has triggered internal friction within the ruling National People's Power. Lal Wijenayake, a senior lawyer and member of the NPP Leadership and Executive Councils, publicly opposed the measure, asserting that the party's Executive Council did not sanction the proposal. This dissent suggests the initiative may be advancing through separate channels rather than via collective party leadership.

External pressure intensified as the Gampaha Lawyers’ Association formally urged the president to abandon the plan. In a letter to the president, the association warned that extending tenures would delay the career progression of judicial officers and erode public trust. The group demanded that the government instead fill existing vacancies in the superior courts through established constitutional processes and engage in broad consultations with the legal community to ensure the rule of law is maintained.