Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara told Parliament he has not received any written communication from the Chief Prelates opposing the proposed constitutional amendment to extend judicial retirement age, contradicting claims by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka.
Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara addressed Parliament on the contentious issue of a proposed constitutional amendment concerning judges' retirement age, stating definitively that he has not received any letter from the Chief Prelates opposing the measure. He further noted that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has also not informed him of receiving such correspondence.
The Minister's statement came in response to questions from Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa regarding claims made by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL). According to BASL, the Chief Incumbent of the Malwatu Chapter had communicated that the Chief Prelates of the four Chapters held reservations about the amendment and had conveyed this position in writing to the President.
Nanayakkara clarified that he and Minister Nalinda Jayatissa had met with the Chief Prelates to discuss the matter. He suggested that initial misunderstandings had existed at the time of the meeting. "After we provided the correct information, they informed us to conduct the necessary discussions and take the necessary actions in this regard," the Minister explained, indicating that the Prelates had shifted their position once properly briefed on the proposal's details.
The discrepancy between BASL's public statements and the Minister's parliamentary testimony highlights ongoing tensions regarding the judicial reform proposal, with questions remaining about the exact nature and content of any communications between religious leadership and government officials.
