By The Pulseline News Desk
Sri Lanka’s controversial proposal to extend the retirement age of Supreme Court and Court of Appeal judges has drawn fresh international criticism, with the International Association of Judges (IAJ) warning that the manner in which the amendment is being introduced risks undermining judicial independence and public confidence in the courts.
In a statement, the IAJ – the world’s largest organisation representing national judges’ associations – said its concerns were not with the principle of changing the retirement age itself, but with the timing, process and apparent purpose of the proposed constitutional amendment.
The association stressed that constitutional reforms affecting the judiciary must be undertaken through a “reasoned, principled, consultative, and robust procedure,” rather than what it described as an arbitrary and ad hoc process.
According to the IAJ, changes to the judicial system that appear to be tailored to benefit particular office holders inevitably create public suspicion and weaken confidence in the independence of the courts, irrespective of the government’s actual intentions.
“The perception that legislation is being enacted to favour specific judicial officers is itself damaging to judicial independence,” the organisation noted, urging the Sri Lankan government to reconsider the proposal in its present form.
The Geneva-based organisation also aligned itself with concerns already raised by the Judicial Service Association of Sri Lanka and the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, both of which have questioned the government’s handling of the proposed amendment.
The IAJ said it would continue to closely monitor developments in Sri Lanka.
Mounting opposition
The intervention marks the latest in a series of objections from both local and international legal bodies over the government’s judicial reform agenda.
The proposed constitutional amendment seeks to increase the retirement age of Supreme Court and Court of Appeal judges by two years while also introducing a maximum six-year term for the office of Chief Justice.
The government has defended the move as part of broader judicial reforms aimed at retaining experienced judges and addressing delays in the justice system. However, critics argue that the proposal was introduced without adequate consultation and could be perceived as benefiting specific members of the higher judiciary.
The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has already passed a resolution opposing the amendment, while several legal organisations have warned that changes affecting judicial tenure must be made transparently and through broad consensus to preserve the separation of powers.
The IAJ’s intervention significantly elevates the issue internationally. Founded in Salzburg, Austria, in 1953, the organisation represents 93 national judges’ associations across five continents and is regarded as one of the foremost global bodies advocating judicial independence, the rule of law and the protection of fundamental rights.
Its statement is likely to add further pressure on the government as debate over the proposed amendment intensifies both domestically and abroad.
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