Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara and Bar Association of Sri Lanka leadership met to discuss a proposed constitutional amendment to extend retirement ages for superior court judges, but both sides maintain opposing positions with little prospect of consensus.
Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara and a delegation from the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) convened at the Justice and National Integration Ministry to deliberate on a government proposal to amend the constitution and extend the retirement ages of judges serving in superior courts. The meeting followed weeks of correspondence between the parties, with both the government and the BASL reiterating entrenched positions ahead of the discussion.
The government has secured Cabinet approval for Minister Nanayakkara's proposal, signaling its commitment to proceeding with the amendment. However, the BASL passed a formal resolution at a Special General Meeting opposing the National People's Power administration's initiative. BASL President Rajeev Amarasuriya stated that the government had not sought the association's input before advancing the proposal, a concern underscored by the attendance of NPP Executive Council member Attorney-at-Law Lal Wijenayake, who previously indicated the party had not conducted internal discussions on the matter.
Observers characterize the prospects for compromise as dim. According to sources familiar with the negotiations, both parties have taken inflexible stances, making consensus unlikely. The government agreed to engage in talks only after President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Minister Nanayakkara responded to persistent correspondence from the BASL, representing a shift from their earlier non-engagement with the association's concerns.
