The government has formally gazetted the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, which proposes raising the retirement age for judges. The move has sparked political debate and concerns about potential social unrest.
The Sri Lankan government has officially gazetted the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, which includes provisions to extend the retirement age for judges across the judiciary. According to the Justice Minister, the draft amendment will be presented for parliamentary consideration, marking a significant step in the government's judicial reform agenda.
The proposed amendment has become a point of contention in parliament, with various stakeholders expressing differing views on the initiative. The opposition United National Party has warned that extending judges' retirement age could provoke unrest among the youth, citing concerns about career prospects in the judicial system. Meanwhile, lawyers' organizations have questioned the urgency behind the move, suggesting there may be underlying motives beyond the stated judicial reform objectives.
Government officials have defended the amendment as part of broader judicial reforms. The Justice Minister indicated that religious leaders, including chief prelates, had not opposed the judicial reforms being proposed. However, questions remain about the rationale for expediting the legislative process, with critics arguing that insufficient time has been allocated for public consultation and parliamentary debate.
