• Party consults lawyers on legal action against proposed judicial retirement age hike
• Political campaigns, protests planned to pressure Govt to withdraw proposal

The main parliamentary opposition SJB is holding discussions on possible legal action against the proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, which seeks, among other changes, to increase the retirement age of Supreme Court (SC) and Court of Appeal (CA) judges.

The move follows the publication of the Constitutional Amendment Draft Bill in the Government Gazette, amid continued opposition to the proposal from various parties, including the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL).

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (9), SJB General Secretary and Parliamentarian Ranjith Madduma Bandara said the party had consistently opposed the Amendment, which has now been gazetted. He said the party was also organising political campaigns, programmes and protests to build public opposition and pressure the Government over its decision. “We are standing with the BASL, and we have had discussions with them. We are also continuously consulting our lawyers to assess what legal steps should be taken next.”  

Attempts to contact BASL President, attorney Rajeev Amarasuriya for comment were unsuccessful.

The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal on 27 July to increase the retirement age of judges at every level of the judiciary by two years. Under the proposal, the retirement ages of SC and CA judges will increase from 65 to 67 and 63 to 65, respectively, through the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution. It also proposes that the Chief Justice retire upon reaching the age of 67 or after completing six years in office, whichever comes first.