BASL meets President
THE MORNING LK NEWS-12.08.2026
Judges retirement age: Prez-BASL meeting on 22A Bill today
12th August, 2026
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is scheduled to meet the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) at 1 p.m. today (12) to discuss the Government’s proposal to amend the Constitution to increase the retirement age of judges.
Under the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Draft Bill, published in the official Government Gazette on 7 August, the mandatory retirement age of Supreme Court Judges would be increased from 65 to 67, while the retirement age of Court of Appeal Judges would be raised from 63 to 65.
The amendment also proposes that the Chief Justice retire upon reaching the age of 67 or completing six years in office, whichever comes first.
The BASL has unanimously opposed the Government’s proposal to extend the retirement age of judges, with BASL President, attorney Rajeev Amarasuriya, stating that the entire legal profession in the country is firmly against the move.
Speaking to the media on 29 July, following a Special General Meeting held at the BASL premises, Amarasuriya said that all lawyers present at the meeting, as well as those who participated online, had voted against the proposal.
He said that the proposal had also drawn opposition from judges and warned that the move could have a serious impact on judicial independence.
He further described the Government’s decision as an unwise move and said that the BASL would take all possible steps to oppose the proposal, with the backing received at the General Meeting strengthening its position.
Amarasuriya cautioned that any action affecting the independence of the Judiciary could have long-term consequences and urged the Government to reconsider the proposal while taking into account the views of the legal community.
He said that the Association had been raising objections to the proposal for nearly two months but had not been given an opportunity by the Government to discuss the matter.
Meanwhile, President Dissanayake has received a letter from the Chief Prelates of the three main Buddhist Sects opposing the proposed constitutional amendment to extend the retirement age of judges, Cabinet Spokesperson Dr Nalinda Jayatissa said yesterday (11).
Speaking at the weekly Cabinet media briefing, Dr Jayatissa confirmed that the letter had been received by the President.
He said that following the concerns raised in the letter, he and Justice Minister, attorney Harshana Nanayakkara, had met with the Chief Prelates and provided clarifications on the proposed constitutional amendment.
Dr Jayatissa made the remarks in response to questions from journalists about whether the President had received the letter.(THE MORNING LK NEWS)
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