Government says judges’ retirement age change is not personal, BASL stresses wider consultation

A discussion on the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution concerning the extension of the retirement age of judges took place between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and representatives of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) this afternoon (12) at the Presidential Secretariat.

During the meeting, which lasted nearly an hour, the BASL representatives presented their views and recommendations on the matter.

The decision to extend the retirement age of judges was not taken with any individual or group in mind, but in the broader public interest, President Dissanayake stressed.
This amendment represents only one component of a broader reform programme aimed at addressing issues across the entire system, and it does not reflect his personal view or the position of the government alone, the President further emphasised.

No policy objection exists regarding increasing the number of judges or extending the retirement age of judges, the representatives of the BASL stated. However, they proposed that the decision on extending the retirement age should be reconsidered with a view to reaching a broader consensus.

The government's position on the issue, as well as planned measures to strengthen and improve the judicial system, were explained by the President as he listened to the matters raised.

The administration of justice does not rest solely with the judiciary but constitutes an integrated process encompassing investigations, prosecutions, and adjudication, the President emphasised. Accordingly, steps are being taken by the government to strengthen the human resources of the Attorney General’s Department, the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), the Sri Lanka Police, and the Government Analyst’s Department to reinforce the overall process, he noted.

Plans are underway to expand the services of CIABOC to the district level, increase the number of Court of Appeal judges, and provide the necessary infrastructure to enable the Court of Appeal to conduct proceedings on a regional basis, thereby making access to justice more convenient for the public, he further stated. Measures are also being taken to increase the number of High Court judges and provide the necessary physical infrastructure and facilities to courts, making the judicial process more accessible to the public, the President highlighted.

Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara, Legal Advisor to the President Attorney-at-Law J. M. Wijebandara, and President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka Attorney-at-Law Rajeev Amarasuriya, together with senior representatives of the BASL, participated in the discussion, the President's Media informed.