Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara has reaffirmed the government's commitment to advancing both the 22nd Amendment and the Judicature Bill simultaneously, despite legal challenges and opposition concerns.
The government intends to move forward with both proposed judicial reforms, according to Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara. Speaking to media on Tuesday, the minister stated that increasing retirement ages alone would be insufficient to achieve the administration's objectives, necessitating the passage of both legislative measures.
The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution would raise the retirement age for Supreme Court judges from 65 to 67 years, and for Court of Appeal judges from 63 to 65. A separate Judicature Amendment Bill seeks to extend retirement ages for High Court judges to 63 from 61, while District Court judges and Magistrates would reach retirement at 62 instead of the current age.
According to Minister Nanayakkara, implementing both bills concurrently would substantially contribute to resolving systemic challenges within the judiciary, particularly addressing a substantial case backlog of approximately 1.1 million matters. The minister emphasized the necessity of the dual approach, dismissing concerns about potential obstacles to their passage.
While the 22nd Amendment has encountered significant legal opposition and petitions filed before the Supreme Court, the Judicature Amendment Bill has not yet faced formal legal challenges. Both the Joint Opposition and the Bar Association of Sri Lanka have acknowledged that no petitions against the Judicature Amendment Bill have been submitted thus far. However, the government's determination to advance both measures simultaneously suggests potential legal battles may emerge as implementation progresses.
