Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara has reaffirmed the government's determination to proceed with the proposed 22nd Constitutional Amendment, describing it as essential judicial reform rather than an attempt to target any individual judge.
Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara has declared that the government will not abandon its push for the 22nd Constitutional Amendment despite facing resistance from various quarters. Speaking at a political gathering in Badulla on Thursday, Minister Nanayakkara framed the proposed reforms as necessary measures to address longstanding systemic inefficiencies in Sri Lanka's judiciary.
The amendment's centerpiece involves extending the retirement age of judges by two years as part of a broader judicial modernization programme. The government argues that such reforms are critical given the approximately 1.1 million cases currently pending in courts. According to the Justice Minister, the judicial system inherited by the current administration has been hobbled by decades of neglect, necessitating urgent intervention to expedite case disposal and improve court efficiency.
However, the proposal has drawn criticism from legal professionals concerned about potential impacts on judicial independence and public confidence in the courts. The proposed retirement age extension has become particularly contentious, with some questioning whether it targets a specific judge. Minister Nanayakkara flatly rejected such claims, stating that if implemented, the retirement age increase would apply uniformly to all judges and district judges. He questioned the logic of postponing the amendment until December, arguing that reforms necessary now cannot become problematic by year's end.
The Justice Minister emphasized that one of the government's core commitments involves establishing mechanisms to prosecute corrupt and fraudulent individuals. He pledged that the government would not reverse its reform agenda, stating that justice delivery would become visible to the public by year's end.
