President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has outlined an extensive reform programme for Sri Lanka's justice system, framing the proposed extension of judicial retirement age as just one element of a broader strategy to address systemic delays and institutional weaknesses.

President Dissanayake addressed the Bar Association of Sri Lanka to present sweeping changes aimed at tackling longstanding problems within the country's justice infrastructure. The President characterised the judicial retirement extension as part of a multifaceted approach that encompasses strengthening investigative bodies, expanding prosecutorial capacity and increasing the number of courthouses and judicial officers across the nation.

The administration plans to significantly bolster investigative institutions, with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption set to establish 24 branch offices nationwide and recruit 373 additional officers at enhanced salary scales. The Attorney General's Department will also expand, with 50 new legal officer positions approved to address departures of experienced professionals. The President indicated that reforms to promotion systems and improved compensation for legal officers involved in corporate litigation are under consideration to retain qualified personnel.

The police force faces acute manpower challenges, with only approximately 68,000 of an authorised 102,000 officers currently performing active duties. The President noted that around 1,100 police officers died in service last year and many work excessive hours. In response, the government plans to recruit 10,000 additional officers alongside modernisation efforts including equipment upgrades. On the judicial side, the administration intends to increase High Court judges to approximately 120 from current levels and establish eleven new courthouses in identified districts. The Judicial Service Commission is simultaneously recruiting 50 new magistrates. These structural expansions, the President argued, would improve promotion pathways and reduce case backlogs that have plagued courts for years.