The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has called on the government to halt further action on a proposed constitutional amendment to increase the retirement ages of Supreme Court and Court of Appeal judges until consultations are held with key stakeholders in the justice sector.
In a letter addressed to Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara, BASL President Rajeev Amarasuriya said the proposed amendment raised serious concerns over judicial independence, the administration of justice and the Rule of Law.
The Association said it had previously sought clarification from the government on whether such an amendment was being considered but had not received a response. It said it subsequently conveyed its concerns directly to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, setting out the Bar’s position against the proposal.
The BASL noted that the retirement ages of Supreme Court and Court of Appeal judges had remained unchanged since the enactment of the 1978 Constitution, and argued that no compelling institutional reason had been presented to justify a change. It added that the recent expansion of the approved cadre of both superior courts had already addressed concerns over judicial workload and capacity.
The Association cautioned that a constitutional amendment specifically extending the tenure of sitting judges could undermine public confidence in the independence of the judiciary. It urged that any reform be preceded by broad consultation with the Bar and other stakeholders in the justice sector.
