Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said in Parliament today that the proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution and the Judicature (Amendment) Bill are aimed at speeding up the disposal of cases and improving access to justice.
Presenting the Bills for their Second Reading, Nanayakkara said no previous government had taken sufficient steps to address the backlog of cases, resulting in people spending years in court and incurring significant legal costs.
He said there are around 1.1 million cases in the judicial system, while Sri Lanka has approximately 19 judges per million people. He said the Government began a broader judicial reform programme in 2024 to address delays across the justice system.
Nanayakkara said 29 courtrooms had been added over the past two years, while the number of High Courts and Commercial High Courts had also been increased. Around 1,700 court staff are being recruited to address shortages in registries, stenographic services and other essential areas.
He said the Government is also introducing technology to the judicial system, including e-filing and electronic access to case records. E-filing has been introduced at the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, while the system has also been extended to District Courts and the Colombo Small Claims Court.
Under the proposed constitutional amendment, the retirement age of relevant superior court judges would be extended by two years. The Minister said the measure would allow the Government to retain experienced judges while broader reforms are implemented.
The Bill also proposes increasing the number of High Court judges from 110 to 120 and Court of Appeal judges from 19 to 24. Nanayakkara said the additional judges would help establish more courts and reduce delays.
He also said the Government is considering holding Court of Appeal sittings outside Colombo where necessary, allowing people from other parts of the country to access appellate justice without travelling to Colombo.
The Supreme Court has determined that the 22nd Amendment Bill does not require approval at a referendum, subject to changes identified by the Court. It also determined that the Judicature (Amendment) Bill is not inconsistent with the Constitution.
The Second Reading debate on the Bills is currently underway in Parliament.
Nanayakkara said the proposed amendments are part of a wider judicial reform programme aimed at improving the efficiency of the justice system and ensuring cases are heard without unnecessary delays. He said the reforms are not intended to establish authoritarianism or suppress anyone, but to ensure justice and fairness for the public.
