The Gampaha Lawyers' Association has requested President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to abandon a plan to increase the statutory retirement age of superior court judges over fears of compromising judicial independence.
In an official communication sent on 22 July 2026 from Gampaha, Association President Chandima Wijerathna and Secretary Sudarshani Rathnayake cautioned the head of state that altering constitutional tenure rules risks eroding public trust in the administration of justice.
Concerns raised by the regional legal organisation focus on the structural friction an extended tenure would create within the legal system.
Prolonging the service of sitting Supreme Court and Court of Appeal judges would directly choke the promotion pipeline for lower court officials, leaving High Court judges, district judges, and magistrates unable to advance through established career channels.
The legal body warned that such delays would severely demoralise serving judicial staff and discourage promising young legal practitioners from seeking appointments on the bench.
The association stressed that judicial tenure is an essential element of the constitutional architecture that must remain entirely shielded from executive influence.
Rather than modifying tenure limits, the lawyers urged the government to focus immediately on filling current vacancies in the higher courts through transparent constitutional channels to tackle case backlogs.
The lawyers insisted that any future constitutional changes concerning the judiciary must only proceed following comprehensive consultation with key stakeholders, including the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, civil society representatives, and sitting judicial officers.
Upholding an uncompromised separation of powers remains vital to preserving institutional stability and reinforcing public faith in Sri Lanka's democratic system.
The government is expected to face mounting pressure from legal bodies across the country as parliament considers upcoming judicial reforms and cabinet deliberations continue over the proposed constitutional amendments.
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