Sri Lanka to Gazette 22nd Amendment to Raise Judge Retirement Age
The plan would add two years to judges’ terms as officials seek to reduce more than 1 million pending cases and relieve overcrowded prisons.
- On Tuesday, Sri Lanka's cabinet approved a 22nd constitutional amendment extending superior court judges' tenure by two years to address a backlog of more than 1 million court cases.
- Delayed proceedings have fueled a crisis in Sri Lanka's 22 prison facilities, where over 41,000 inmates are held in spaces designed for about 11,000, following recent riots that killed 31 people.
- Cabinet spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa said the proposal extends tenure for district and magistrate judges, aiming to "increase the efficiency of cases being heard" and provide relief to the public.
- Lawyers and the opposition have criticized the amendment, arguing the bill lacks a consultative framework and threatens to undermine public perceptions of judicial independence in Sri Lanka.
- The main opposition party, Samagi Jana Balawegaya, proposed on Tuesday establishing a special parliamentary select committee to identify alternative procedural measures to resolve legal cases more efficiently.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Sri Lanka cabinet backs extending superior court judges’ tenure
COLOMBO, Aug 4 – Sri Lanka’s cabinet on Tuesday approved a constitutional amendment that would extend superior court judges’ tenure by two years, an official said, as the country seeks to clear a backlog of more than 1 million court cases and ease the pressure on its overcrowded prisons. The move follows two recent prison riots that killed 31 people, including 10 prison officials, and injured dozens more. One prisoner died and nine inmates wer…
Sri Lanka to gazette 22nd Amendment to raise judge retirement age
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers has approved publishing the Twenty-Second Amendment to the Constitution Bill and the Judicature (Amendment) Bill in the government gazette to raise the retirement age of all judges by two years. Cabinet Spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa said the proposals received constitutional clearance from the Attorney General after initial approval on July 27. The bills will subsequently be tabled in Parliament for a…
A statement that the solution to the delay in cases is not to extend the retirement age of judges but to expand the system
Cabinet Spokesperson, Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa stated that he is not aware of the fact that the three-denominational Mahanayake Theros have sent a letter to the President stating that the constitutional amendment to extend the retirement age of judicial judges is inappropriate. The Minister stated this while participating in the media briefing held today (04) to inform the media of cabinet decisions and responding …
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