Sri Lanka to table contentious Bill extending judges’ retirement age
The Sri Lankan government plans to introduce a constitutional amendment to increase the retirement age for Supreme Court and Court of Appeal judges. Critics and the Bar Association of Sri Lanka argue the move threatens judicial independence.
Why it matters
The debate over judicial tenure extensions is critical to the balance of power and the perceived integrity of the legal system in Sri Lanka.
The Sri Lankan government will table a contentious Bill in Parliament this week seeking to raise the mandatory retirement age of judges of the country’s Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, a move critics say could undermine the independence of the judiciary.
According to a media statement issued by Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara, the government will table the proposed constitutional amendment Bill — the 22nd Amendment — on Tuesday (August 18, 2026). It seeks to amend Article 107(5) of the Constitution to raise the retirement age of Supreme Court judges from 65 to 67 years and that of Court of Appeal judges from 63 to 65 years.
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