The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) says that a referendum is needed if the government moves ahead with a constitutional amendment to extend the retirement age of judges across all courts, including the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal.
BASL President Attorney-at-Law Rajeev Amarasuriya made these remarks during an interview on a private media channel following Cabinet approval of the controversial proposal.
He raised concerns over existing administrative delays within the judicial sector, pointing out that eight vacancies currently remain unfilled across the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.
Amarasuriya urged the President to address these critical appointments without further delay rather than pushing through structural changes to judicial tenures.
The opposition from the BASL adds to growing resistance across the legal sector, where judicial unions and regional lawyer groups have already warned that altering retirement ages risks eroding public trust and stalling career progression for junior judicial officers.
Altering the constitutional framework governing judicial tenure carries profound implications for the rule of law and the independence of Sri Lanka's judiciary.
With Cabinet approval secured, the draft amendment is expected to head to parliament for debate, setting up a major legislative and legal showdown over the necessity of a public referendum.
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