The Bar Association of Sri Lanka has passed a unanimous resolution opposing the government's proposal to extend the retirement age of Supreme Court judges, calling it a threat to judicial independence.

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has formally rejected the government's proposal to extend the retirement age of Supreme Court judges following a special general meeting held on Wednesday. According to BASL President Rajeev Amarasuriya, between 3,000 and 4,000 lawyers participated in the meeting through both in-person and virtual attendance, with all voting members unanimously opposing the initiative.

The government had approved the proposal through Cabinet on July 27, despite objections from multiple quarters including the BASL, the Judicial Service Association, President's Counsel, and several political parties. Amarasuriya characterized the proposal as "unethical" and warned of serious long-term consequences for judicial independence if implemented. He suggested that should the government proceed, the matter should be subjected to a public referendum.

The BASL announced plans to meet with the Minister of Justice on Wednesday evening to formally present its opposition to the proposal. The association's strong stance reflects concerns within the legal profession that extending judges' tenure could compromise the independence of the judiciary and interfere with established institutional safeguards.