Judges’ retirement age: Joint Opposition heads to court

Former Minister and senior opposition politician Prof. G. L. Peiris has accused the Government of pursuing proposed changes affecting the judiciary without adequate consultation, describing the meeting offered to the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) as an “eye-wash”.

Peiris made the remarks to the media on Wednesday (12) after leaders of the Joint Opposition met British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Andrew Patrick in Colombo.

He said any democratic government introducing legislation should engage in extensive consultations with the Bar Association, universities, civil society organisations and other relevant stakeholders before reaching a final decision.

Peiris alleged that the Government had failed to engage in such a process over the proposed provisions and claimed that even the Justice Minister was unaware of key developments surrounding the matter.

He also referred to a letter he said had been sent to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake by the Mahanayake Theras of the Malwathu and Asgiriya Chapters, questioning whether the President had even acknowledged receipt of the letter.

“What is the situation in Sri Lanka today?” Peiris asked, claiming that the Mahanayake Theras had not been informed what had happened to their communication.

He said the President’s decision to meet representatives of the BASL only after the Gazette notification had been issued and Cabinet decisions taken raised questions about the usefulness of the meeting.

“The BASL wanted to meet the President to explain that this is inappropriate and would cause serious damage to the judiciary,” Peiris said, arguing that the opportunity for consultation had come too late.

He described the meeting as “nothing more than an eye-wash”, questioning what purpose it could serve after the Government had already taken the relevant decisions.

Peiris further claimed that the proposed changes would not resolve the backlog of cases or delays in the administration of justice, noting that only a small proportion of pending cases were before the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal.

He also warned that extending the service period of judges could lead to demands from other sectors for similar concessions.

The Government had already indicated that it was considering extending the service period of police officers, while other professional groups could also seek similar treatment, he said.

Peiris argued that such measures would create further problems rather than address existing ones, and could undermine public confidence in the judiciary.

He questioned whether changes concerning judges should be treated as a priority when the country was facing a range of pressing economic and social problems, including difficulties faced by farmers, deaths in prisons, shortages of essential medicines and challenges in the education sector.

“Is this the country’s priority? Is this what the country needs?” Peiris asked, calling on the Government to reconsider its approach.

MP Dayasiri Jayasekara, former Minister Dilan Perera, Satyagaveshayo organisation founder Attorney-at-Law Premanath C. Dolawatte and Nava Jana Peramuna Deputy Leader Upatissa Kumaratunga were also present at the media briefing.