Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara stated that the proposed constitutional and judicial amendments aim to expedite court cases and improve access to justice.

Presenting the 22nd Constitutional Amendment Bill and Judicature (Amendment) Bill for the Second Reading in Parliament today (24), he noted that the reforms are part of a broader effort to address delays in the judicial system.

The Minister stated that Sri Lanka currently has around 1.1 million pending cases and approximately 19 judges per million people.

He noted that the proposals include extending the retirement age of relevant judges by two years, increasing High Court judges from 110 to 120 and Court of Appeal judges from 19 to 24.

The reforms also include expanding court capacity, recruiting around 1,700 judicial staff and increasing the use of digital systems such as e-Filing.