Sri Lanka's Cabinet has approved a constitutional amendment bill that would extend judges' retirement ages by two years and implement other changes to the judiciary, according to Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara.
Sri Lanka's Cabinet of Ministers has given its approval to a proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill containing significant changes to the country's judicial system. Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara announced the Cabinet's decision during a television appearance, stating that the legislation seeks to extend the retirement age applicable to all judges through amendments to both the Constitution and the Judicature Act.
The proposed amendment introduces multiple reforms to Sri Lanka's judiciary. Beyond extending judges' retirement age by two years, the bill would expand the bench strength of both the Court of Appeal and High Courts. Additionally, it seeks to limit the tenure of the Chief Justice to a fixed six-year period.
Following Cabinet approval, Minister Nanayakkara indicated that the draft bill will now proceed to publication in the Government Gazette, a formal step required for legislative processes in Sri Lanka. Once gazetted, the minister noted that interested parties may petition the courts to challenge specific provisions of the amendment, as permitted under Sri Lanka's constitutional framework. This avenue for judicial review represents a standard procedural safeguard in the country's legislative process.
