The judges retirement age proposal drew concern from the Malwatu Chief Prelate, who warned against changing the law for one individual.
The judges retirement age proposal drew a direct warning from the Malwatu Chief Prelate during a meeting with two senior government ministers.
Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara and Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa visited the Chief Prelate on August 3 to explain the proposed legislation.
The draft bill seeks to extend the retirement age of judges across Sri Lanka’s judicial system.
During the discussion, the Chief Prelate said any age extension should apply fairly. He argued that the government should consider granting the same benefit to all public servants.
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His Holiness warned against introducing legal amendments that appear to target one person or a particular group.
“If there is an age extension for every judge as well as every government official, that would be good. Doing this targeting one person is not good,” the Chief Prelate said.
Minister Nanayakkara responded by outlining the government’s reasons for introducing the proposal.
He said judges in many countries retire at 70 or later. According to the minister, Sri Lanka’s proposed change seeks to protect judicial independence and address the shortage of judges.
Nanayakkara also referred to difficulties in judicial recruitment.
He said authorities called for applications to recruit 50 judges, but only 33 candidates applied. The minister argued that this shortage made the proposed extension necessary.
The ministers informed the Chief Prelate that the Attorney General had approved the draft bill.
They said the government expects to publish it in the Gazette in the coming days.
Both ministers also rejected suggestions that the judges retirement age proposal was designed to benefit one individual.
They maintained that the legislation forms part of a broader response to judicial staffing shortages and concerns about continuity within the courts.
