Sri Lanka to table Bill raising judges’ retirement age

The Sri Lankan government will table the 22nd Amendment Bill in Parliament on Tuesday, seeking to raise the retirement age of Supreme Court judges from 65 to 67 years and Court of Appeal judges from 63 to 65 years. Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said the move aims to address a backlog of about 1.1 million pending cases and retain experienced judges.

The Opposition, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, and civil society groups oppose the Bill, arguing it undermines judicial independence. Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa questioned why the extension should apply to sitting judges. The BASL told President Anura Kumara Dissanayake the amendment would seriously impact judicial independence.

President Dissanayake said the decision was taken in the broader public interest and is part of a wider judicial reform programme. UN Special Rapporteur Margaret Satterthwaite noted the amendment may not align with international standards on judicial independence and fair trial.