COLOMBO – The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has formally rejected the government’s proposal to extend the retirement age of judges, warning that the move could undermine judicial independence and requesting a meeting with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to discuss its concerns.
The decision was reached unanimously at a Special General Meeting of the BASL held on Wednesday (29), attended by approximately 3,000 attorneys from across the country.
According to the BASL, members resolved that the government’s proposal to extend the retirement age of judges at all levels of the judiciary was “short-sighted” and should be opposed.
Following the resolution, a BASL delegation led by its president Rajeev Amarasuriya PC met Justice and National Integration Minister President’s Counsel Harshana Nanayakkara at the Ministry at around 5.00 p.m. on Wednesday.
During the meeting, the delegation reiterated its strong opposition to the proposal, arguing that extending judges’ retirement ages could have implications for judicial independence.
The BASL also questioned why the proposal had been submitted for Cabinet approval before consultations with the legal profession, despite the longstanding practice of seeking the Association’s views on significant legislative and constitutional reforms.
The delegation further said the timing of the proposed amendment, after the retirement of certain judges, had created public suspicion that the move could be intended to benefit or affect a particular individual.
Responding to the concerns, Minister Nanayakkara maintained that the proposed amendment would apply equally to all judges and was not intended to benefit any specific person.
He said he was acting in accordance with collective decisions taken by the Cabinet and the government, and assured the delegation that their concerns would be conveyed to the President.
The BASL delegation requested that the minister facilitate a meeting with President Dissanayake to discuss the matter directly.
According to the Association, Minister Nanayakkara agreed to raise the request with the President.
The Cabinet this week approved a proposal to amend the Constitution and the Judicature Act to increase the retirement age of judges. The government says the move is intended to retain experienced judges and help reduce the backlog of court cases, while critics argue the proposal should have been subjected to wider consultation before being approved.
-ENCL
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