The judges’ retirement age extension has won Cabinet approval, raising the limits for Supreme Court and Court of Appeal judges by two years.
The judges’ retirement age extension has received Cabinet approval, clearing the way for a two-year increase for judges serving in Sri Lanka’s superior courts.
The proposal covers judges of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. The government also plans to consider similar changes for judges serving in lower courts across the country.
Officials will now refer the draft proposal to the Legal Draftsman for preparation. The completed draft will then go to the Attorney General for clearance before the government proceeds with the required legal process.
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Judges’ Retirement Age Changes Proposed
Under the proposed constitutional amendment, the retirement age of Supreme Court judges will increase from 65 to 67.
Article 107(5) of the Constitution currently sets the Supreme Court retirement age at 65.
The government also proposes raising the retirement age of Court of Appeal judges from 63 to 65.
According to Ministry of Justice sources, authorities expect to submit a parallel proposal covering judges serving in the High Court, District Courts and Magistrate’s Courts.
The present retirement ages are:
| Court | Current retirement age |
|---|---|
| Supreme Court | 65 |
| Court of Appeal | 63 |
| High Court | 61 |
| District and Magistrate’s Courts | 60 |
The proposed judges’ retirement age changes would extend the service periods of senior judicial officers throughout the country.
However, the Cabinet decision represents an initial stage of the process. The constitutional amendments must still undergo legal drafting, Attorney General review and the required approval procedures before taking effect.
