Sri Lanka's Parliament begins debate on controversial bill on judges' retirement age

Sri Lanka's Parliament on Thursday (September 24, 2026) commenced a two-day debate on the controversial 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, which seeks to raise the retirement age of judges.

The debate comes despite months-long protests from the opposition parties and the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), which argued that the amendment would undermine judicial independence.

Opening the debate, Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said the move to extend the retirement age of judges was to make the delivery of justice more efficient. "We are not bringing this amendment to be authoritarian to control or suppress the independence of the judiciary,” he said.

The main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) staged a protest near Parliament, calling on the government to withdraw the proposed amendment. Several thousand supporters of the SJB attended the protest.