International Association of Judges asks govt. to withdraw proposed Constitutional amendment

The International Association of Judges (IAJ), the world's largest global organisation representing national judges' associations, has raised concerns over the proposed constitutional amendment by the NPP government to extend the retirement age of Supreme Court and Court of Appeal judges by two years. The IAJ expressed its concerns are not about the concept of altering the retirement age, but rather the timing, method of introduction, and the perceived purpose of the legislation.

They emphasized that constitutional changes affecting the judiciary should follow a "reasoned, principled, consultative, and robust procedure" rather than an arbitrary and ad hoc announcement, warning that such an approach could threaten judicial independence. The IAJ also noted that the proposal's perception of benefiting specific judicial officers undermines public confidence in the judiciary's independence, irrespective of the government's intentions.

The IAJ echoed concerns previously voiced by the Judicial Service Association of Sri Lanka and the Commonwealth Lawyers Association. They urged the Sri Lankan government to reconsider the legislation in its current form and assured ongoing monitoring of the situation.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Island Sri Lanka's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.