The Government has gazetted a proposed amendment to the Judicature Act that would increase the number of High Court judges and raise retirement ages across the judiciary, with the changes now awaiting parliamentary debate.
The Judicature (Amendment) Bill was officially gazetted on Friday, signalling the Government's intention to restructure key aspects of Sri Lanka's judicial system. The proposed legislation seeks to expand the High Court bench by ten judges, raising the maximum number of positions from 110 to 120.
Under the Bill's provisions, the retirement age for High Court judges would increase from 61 to 63 years. Additionally, judges and magistrates serving in lower courts would see their retirement age standardised at 62 years, replacing the framework previously established under the Public and Judicial Officers (Retirement) Ordinance.
The timing of the gazetting follows closely after the publication of a proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, indicating broader judicial reform initiatives under consideration. According to the Government's stated legal rationale, these changes are intended to strengthen judicial capacity and modernise the retirement framework across all judicial levels.
Both the constitutional amendment and the Judicature (Amendment) Bill are required to undergo parliamentary debate and secure legislative approval before implementation. The measures represent a significant modification to Sri Lanka's judicial structure and employment conditions, affecting appointment capacity and personnel retention across the judiciary.
