Sri Lanka’s government proposes contentious judicial reform package

Sri Lanka's government has proposed significant judicial reform measures in an effort to tackle an overwhelming case backlog and staffing shortages, despite concerns over potential threats to judicial independence. Two bills introduced in parliament would expand the number of courthouses, establish new appeals courts outside Colombo, raise the retirement age of judges by two years, and hire additional judicial staff.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake claims these reforms will streamline the criminal justice system and address critical shortages across the police force and courts. However, the private bar association opposes the changes, arguing that the proposed increase in the retirement age for Supreme Court judges is an attempt to prolong the tenure of Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, seen as closely aligned with the government.

The reforms also include plans to expand the Court of Appeal from 20 to 25 judges, create 10 new High Courts, and hire 10,000 police constables and hundreds of court clerks. This initiative is part of a broader effort to overhaul the entire judicial process, from investigations to court proceedings. While the government maintains that the reforms are necessary to improve efficiency and reduce delays, several opposition parties accuse Chief Justice Surasena of bias towards the administration's policy goals.

The reform package requires a two-thirds majority in parliament, which the government currently holds, and is expected to move through the legislative process within two months. The judicial overhaul coincides with intensified anti-corruption investigations involving former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and members of his family, allegations they deny.

UN Special Rapporteur Margaret Satterthwaite has requested clarification from Colombo on whether the reforms comply with international standards on judicial independence, drawing international attention to the contentious package.