NPP's Lal Wijenayake rejects judges’ retirement age plan

The proposed extension of the retirement age of judges faces public opposition from National People’s Power (NPP) Leadership Council and Executive Council member Lal Wijenayake, who stated that the decision-making bodies he belongs to never approved the matter.

Addressing a media briefing attended by President’s Counsel and senior lawyers today, Wijenayake addressed why he stood against a proposal linked to the government led by his own political movement.

He clarified that neither the NPP Executive Council nor any other council he serves on took any decision to raise the retirement age of judges.

Wijenayake also stated that he received instructions to stay quiet after raising questions regarding the issue.

Reflecting on his 55-year legal career and roughly six decades in left-wing politics, Wijenayake stated that principles and the goal of establishing a civilized society formed the foundation of his political life, noting his past struggles for judicial independence across various administrations.

He described his resistance to the present proposal as a ongoing effort to protect the independence of the judiciary, calling the decision arbitrary and uncivilised while pledging to keep fighting against it.