President Defends Judges' Retirement Age Extension, Says Move Is in National Interest

COLOMBO (News 1st); President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has defended the Government's proposal to extend the retirement age of judges, informing representatives of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) that the move was undertaken solely in the national interest and not for the benefit of any individual or group.

The President made these remarks during a discussion with a 24-member delegation from the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, which met him to discuss the proposed 22nd Constitutional Amendment relating to the retirement age of Supreme Court judges.

The BASL delegation, led by its President Rajeev Amarasuriya, also included Secretary Nalin Silva, former BASL Presidents President's Counsel Upul Jayasuriya, Geoffrey Alagaratnam, U.R. de Silva and Rienzie Arsecularatne, as well as Professor Savitri Goonesekere.

During the discussion, the Bar Association presented its views and proposals regarding the amendment. According to information shared following the meeting, BASL representatives stated that they had no policy-level objection to increasing the number of judges or extending the retirement age of judges. However, they proposed that further consideration be given to the measure with a view to reaching a broader public consensus.

Responding to the concerns raised, President Dissanayake outlined the Government's broader plans for judicial reform and emphasized that the administration of justice is not limited to the courts alone.

The President noted that the justice system operates through an interconnected process involving investigations, prosecutions and the judiciary. As part of efforts to strengthen that system, he said the Government is increasing human resources within the Attorney General's Department, the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, the Sri Lanka Police and the Government Analyst's Department.

According to the President's Media Division, the President also explained that plans are underway to expand the services of the Bribery Commission to the district level, increase the number of Court of Appeal judges and improve infrastructure to enable provincial-level operations of the Court of Appeal, thereby making judicial services more accessible to the public.

He further highlighted ongoing efforts to increase the number of High Court judges and upgrade physical infrastructure within courts across the country.

Reiterating the Government's position, President Dissanayake stressed that extending the retirement age of judges was not designed to serve any individual or group but forms part of a wider reform programme aimed at addressing deficiencies within the justice sector.

He also emphasized that the amendment should not be viewed as a personal position or a unilateral Government initiative, but rather as one component of a broader effort to strengthen the country's judicial system.

Speaking to reporters following the meeting, BASL President Rajeev Amarasuriya rejected suggestions that the Bar Association had remained silent over personal and derogatory remarks directed at the Chief Justice in connection with the proposed amendment.

Amarasuriya said the association has consistently opposed personal attacks and unfair criticism of individuals, adding that he too had been subjected to criticism and smear campaigns in recent weeks.

He further noted that no official statement had been issued even regarding attacks directed at him, stressing that attacks against judges or other individuals, including those carried out through fake social media accounts and bots, were unacceptable.

Asked whether a referendum was being considered in relation to the amendment, Amarasuriya said the matter should be approached step by step. He described the discussion with the President as constructive and expressed hope that the process would move in a positive direction following the exchange of views. While acknowledging that constitutional amendments fall within the authority of the Government, he maintained that stakeholders retain the right to oppose proposals they believe are flawed.

Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara, commenting on the meeting, said the discussion had taken place at the request of the Bar Association and that both he and President's Counsel Vijaya Bandara represented the Government.

According to the Minister, BASL representatives reiterated concerns they had previously expressed publicly regarding the amendment's potential impact on judicial independence and outlined reasons why they believed it should not proceed in its current form.

He said President Dissanayake responded by explaining in detail the Government's objectives and the rationale behind the amendment. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Bar Association requested that its concerns be taken into consideration and that the proposal be reviewed further in an effort to reach consensus.