Government Awaits Justice Ministry Report on Judges' Retirement Age

22-Jul-2026

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The Government has sought a report from the Ministry of Justice on the proposal to increase the retirement age of judges, Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said.

Addressing the weekly Cabinet media briefing at the Department of Government Information in Colombo on July 21, Jayatissa also said the Government was prepared to defeat any no-confidence motion that the Opposition might bring against the Justice Minister.

He alleged that the Opposition had become unsettled by the acceleration of court proceedings and intensified legal action against organised crime figures and corruption suspects.

The Minister said the Government's official position on the retirement age would be announced only after the report from the Ministry of Justice was received.

He noted that recent months had seen intensified operations by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption and the Police, with several organised crime figures who had fled overseas being brought back to face legal proceedings.

He also pointed to efforts to expedite long-pending court cases.

According to Jayatissa, the proposed no-confidence motions against the Justice Minister and the Minister of Public Security were politically motivated attempts to disrupt law enforcement and judicial processes and create confusion among the public.

He expressed confidence that the Government, which commands a parliamentary majority, would defeat any such motion with ease.

The Minister further observed that the proposal to raise the retirement age of judges was not a new one and had been discussed for several years by parliamentary committees and various professional bodies.

He said the Government's primary objective was to reduce the large backlog of court cases and ensure the efficient administration of justice. While the appointment of new judges was under way, the Government was also examining the possibility of increasing the retirement age of senior judicial officers, including Supreme Court judges and the Chief Justice.

Jayatissa reiterated that consultations with stakeholders, including the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, would take place only after the Government announced its official position.

He added that the Government remained committed to reforms that strengthen democracy and benefit the public, and reaffirmed its pledge, as outlined in its policy statement, to introduce a new Constitution through due process with the mandate of the people and the participation of Parliament.