Senior opposition figures have accused the government of pursuing judicial changes without proper stakeholder engagement, claiming a meeting with the Bar Association amounts to mere formality after key decisions have already been made.
Opposition leaders met with Britain's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka on Wednesday to express concerns about proposed judicial reforms, with former Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris characterizing the government's consultation process as insufficient. Peiris argued that democratic governments should conduct extensive discussions with the Bar Association, universities, and civil society organizations before finalizing legislation affecting the judiciary, claiming this standard has not been met in the current case.
Peiris contended that the government's timing undermined genuine consultation. He stated that the Bar Association's request to meet with the President came only after Cabinet decisions had been taken and a Gazette notification issued, rendering the meeting largely ceremonial. The opposition politician also questioned whether the President had even acknowledged a letter from senior Buddhist clergy expressing concerns about the proposed changes, suggesting a lack of transparency in the decision-making process.
Regarding the substance of the reforms, Peiris disputed their effectiveness, asserting that judicial changes would not address case backlogs or administration delays, since most pending cases fall outside the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. He further warned that extending judges' service periods could prompt similar demands from other professional groups, including police officers, creating broader complications rather than solving existing problems.
Peiris emphasized that judicial reforms should not be treated as a priority given what he described as more pressing national concerns, including economic difficulties, agricultural challenges, prison deaths, medicine shortages, and education sector problems. The opposition delegation, which included MPs and former ministers, presented these concerns during their meeting with the British High Commissioner.
