President Anura Kumara Dissanayake met with representatives of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) at the Presidential Secretariat on Wednesday (12) to discuss proposed changes to the country’s judicial system.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake met with representatives of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) at the Presidential Secretariat on Wednesday (12) to discuss proposed changes to the country’s judicial system.
The nearly hour-long meeting focused on the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, particularly the proposal to extend the retirement age of judges.
BASL representatives presented their views and recommendations, while President Dissanayake explained the Government’s position and outlined measures being planned to strengthen the judicial system.
The President said the administration of justice involves not only the judiciary but also investigations and prosecutions. He said the Government is therefore taking steps to strengthen the Attorney General’s Department, CIABOC, Sri Lanka Police and the Government Analyst’s Department.
He also outlined plans to expand CIABOC services to the district level, increase the number of Court of Appeal judges, establish facilities for regional Court of Appeal proceedings, and increase the number of High Court judges.
President Dissanayake stressed that the proposed extension of judges’ retirement age was not aimed at any individual or group, but was being considered in the broader public interest.
BASL representatives said they had no policy objection to increasing the number of judges or extending their retirement age. However, they called for the retirement-age proposal to be reconsidered in order to reach a broader consensus.
