Sri Lanka's three Buddhist Nikayas have reportedly written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake opposing a proposed constitutional amendment that would extend the retirement age for superior court judges, according to an opposition MP.
Opposition Sri Lanka Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Sujeewa Senasinghe disclosed on Wednesday what he characterized as a letter from the Chief Prelates of Sri Lanka's three Buddhist Nikayas to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The communication reportedly expresses concerns regarding the government's planned 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, which seeks to raise the retirement ages for judges in the country's upper courts.
Speaking at the SJB headquarters in Etul Kotte, Senasinghe stated that the religious leaders had urged the President to reconsider proceeding with the proposed changes. According to the MP's account of the letter, the Chief Prelates contended that increasing the current retirement thresholds would be inappropriate, citing concerns about the measure's implications for judicial independence and functioning.
Under the existing constitutional framework, judges of the Court of Appeal retire at age 63, while Supreme Court judges depart at 65. The government's proposed amendment would modify these provisions. Senasinghe's public disclosure of the letter comes amid intensifying resistance to the constitutional reform from multiple quarters, including the legal profession and civil society organizations, all raising questions about potential impacts on the judiciary's autonomy.
