President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is scheduled to meet representatives of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) at 1.00 p.m. today (12) to discuss the Government’s proposal to amend the Constitution and increase the retirement age of judges.

The proposed changes have triggered strong opposition from the legal profession, with the BASL warning that extending the retirement age could have serious implications for judicial independence and public confidence in the judiciary.

Under the proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Draft Bill, published in the Government Gazette on August 7, the mandatory retirement age of Supreme Court judges would be increased from 65 to 67 years.

The retirement age of Court of Appeal judges would also be increased from 63 to 65 years.

The proposed amendment further states that the Chief Justice would retire upon reaching 67 years of age or completing six years in office, whichever comes first.

The BASL has unanimously rejected the proposed changes.

BASL President Rajeev Amarasuriya said the legal profession was firmly opposed to the Government’s move, adding that the association had received unanimous support for its position at a Special General Meeting held on July 29.

Speaking to the media following the meeting, Amarasuriya said lawyers who attended the meeting physically, as well as those who participated online, had voted against the proposal.

He said opposition had also been expressed by members of the judiciary, warning that the proposed changes could have a significant impact on judicial independence.

The BASL has previously urged the Government not to proceed with the constitutional amendment without meaningful consultation with key stakeholders. The association has maintained that the existing retirement ages of 63 for Court of Appeal judges and 65 for Supreme Court judges should not be changed arbitrarily.

Amarasuriya described the Government’s decision as unwise and said the BASL would take all possible steps to oppose the proposal.

He warned that measures affecting the independence of the judiciary could have long-term consequences for the country’s legal and constitutional framework.

The BASL President also called on the Government to reconsider the proposal while taking into account concerns raised by the legal profession and other stakeholders.

The association has said it had been raising objections to the proposal for nearly two months but had not been given an opportunity to formally discuss the matter with the Government.

Earlier, the BASL wrote to President Dissanayake expressing concern over the proposed constitutional amendment and subsequently called for consultations before any further steps were taken.

The meeting between President Dissanayake and the BASL is expected to be closely watched as opposition from the legal community grows over the proposed changes to the retirement age of judges in the superior courts.

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