The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has decided to hold a special public forum to gather the views of members of the legal profession and the public on the government’s proposed constitutional amendment to extend the retirement age of senior judges, including those serving on the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.
The public consultation and discussion forum is scheduled to take place today (July 4, 2026), from 10.45 a.m. to 12.30 p.m., at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute (SLFI) Auditorium in Colombo.
According to the BASL, the inaugural forum on the same topic attracted an overwhelming response and a large number of participants. Due to limited seating capacity, only individuals who have pre-registered will be admitted to this session. Attendees are also requested to bring the official invitation they received to facilitate entry.
The government is reportedly preparing to introduce a constitutional amendment to increase the retirement age of Supreme Court judges from 65 to 67 years, and that of Court of Appeal judges from 63 to 65 years.
However, the BASL and several legal experts have expressed concern that introducing such a constitutional amendment while incumbent judges are still in office could have a significant impact on the independence of the judiciary and public confidence in the judicial system.
The BASL had previously written to the President, urging that the retirement age limits, which have remained unchanged since the 1978 Constitution, should not be altered abruptly for political reasons.
In this context, and in accordance with a decision of the BASL Executive Council, the forum has been organized to formally obtain the views of the legal profession and the public on the proposed constitutional amendment.
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