By: A Special Correspondent
August 13, Colombo (LNW): President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will proceed with the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution as planned, despite mounting pressure from religious leaders, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), opposition politicians, and international organisations, LNW exclusively learns from inside sources close to the President.
The proposed 22nd Amendment, gazetted on August 7, seeks to raise the mandatory retirement age of Supreme Court judges from 65 to 67 and Court of Appeal judges from 63 to 65. The amendment has triggered a wave of opposition. The BASL has unanimously rejected the proposal, describing it as direct interference with judicial independence. Religious leaders, civil society organisations, and overseas legal and judicial associations have also voiced strong concerns. Chief Prelates of the three main Buddhist Nikayas have urged the government to reconsider.
President Dissanayake met a BASL delegation at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday (August 12) for discussions that lasted nearly an hour. According to inside sources, the President was courteous throughout the engagement. However, he remained firm on the government’s decision to proceed with the amendment.
During the meeting, the President emphasised that 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. He outlined that the amendment is only one component of a broader reform programme aimed at strengthening the entire judicial system, including plans to increase the number of Court of Appeal and High Court judges, expand CIABOC services to the district level, and improve court infrastructure.
BASL representatives stated they had no policy objection to increasing the number of judges or extending the retirement age. However, they proposed that the decision be reconsidered with a view to reaching a broader consensus. The BASL has also urged that the amendment be referred to a Parliamentary Select Committee for proper stakeholder consultation before any final decision.
Despite these appeals, inside sources confirm the President’s position remains unchanged. The 22nd Amendment will go ahead as scheduled.
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