The Church of Ceylon has expressed deep concern and disappointment over the Cabinet’s decision to proceed with a constitutional amendment to raise the retirement age of appellate court judges.
In a statement, the Anglican Church in Sri Lanka said it had hoped the President and Cabinet would heed the strong arguments of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, the wider legal community, and civil society, who warned that such a move could undermine the rule of law and public confidence in judicial independence.
The Church noted that the government’s justification, citing the need to clear case backlogs, was weakened by the fact that many appellate court vacancies remain unfilled without rational explanation.
“We can only conclude, therefore, that the real motivation for this amendment lacks bona fides,” the statement said.
Highlighting its long‑standing calls for broader constitutional reform, including abolishing the executive presidency, strengthening independent institutions, and addressing minority grievances, the Church criticized the government for failing to initiate such reforms despite promises.
Pursuing an amendment that was not part of recent reform debates or election campaigns, it said, “lacks moral legitimacy and constitutional propriety.”
The statement urged the President and Cabinet to withdraw the proposed amendment, reminded the legislature of its duty to check the executive, and called on the judiciary to consider the damage the move could cause to its reputation and the rule of law. (Newswire)
