Jaffna Bar Association asks President to rethink plan to raise judges’ retirement age

The Bar Association of Jaffna has urged President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to reconsider the government's proposal to amend the Constitution to extend the retirement age of Superior Court judges. The association is not opposed in principle but argues the change should apply to all judges and be part of a wider constitutional reform, warning that a standalone amendment could harm judicial independence and public trust.

In a letter dated July 28, the Bar Association of Jaffna (BAJ) told President Anura Kumara Dissanayake that while it does not object in principle to raising the retirement age, it believes the measure should cover the entire judiciary, including lower court judges, and be integrated into a broader constitutional reform process.

The association expressed concern that introducing the amendment separately could create the impression that the Executive is interfering with the Judiciary or granting it special privileges, which it said might undermine judicial independence and erode public confidence.

It further stated that the retirement age issue could be addressed when the government undertakes a comprehensive repeal and replacement of the Constitution. The BAJ warned that piecemeal constitutional amendments for “instrumentalist purposes” could weaken respect for constitutionalism, democratic governance, and the rule of law.

The association urged the President to reconsider and abandon the proposed constitutional amendment at this stage.