Sri Lanka's government will table the 22nd Constitutional Amendment Bill in Parliament on August 18, which would raise the retirement age for Supreme Court judges from 65 to 67 and Court of Appeal judges from 63 to 65, despite widespread opposition.
Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara announced that the 22nd Constitutional Amendment Bill will be presented to Parliament on Tuesday, August 18, alongside the Judicial Organizations Amendment Bill. The amendment seeks to extend the mandatory retirement ages for senior judges in the country's judicial system.
The proposed changes would increase the retirement age of Supreme Court judges by two years to 67, while Court of Appeal judges would retire at 65 instead of the current age of 63. The government published the amendment in the official Gazette on August 7, formally advancing the legislative process.
The proposal has encountered significant opposition from multiple quarters. The Chief Prelates of Sri Lanka's three Buddhist Nikayas, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, opposition political parties, and several international organizations have voiced concerns about the amendment. However, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has maintained his support for proceeding with the changes, a position he reiterated during a recent meeting with Bar Association representatives.
Once presented to Parliament, constitutional procedure allows a 14-day period during which the bill may be challenged before the Supreme Court. The Court must then examine any petitions and communicate its determination to Parliament within three to 21 days. This constitutional safeguard provides a mechanism for legal scrutiny before the amendment can proceed further in the legislative process.
