The 22nd Constitutional Amendment Bill, which seeks to extend the retirement age of Supreme Court and Court of Appeal judges, has been included in the Parliament Order Book ahead of its scheduled presentation to Parliament on Tuesday (18).
The Bill is due to be presented by Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara.
The Bill seeks to amend the Judicature Act No. 2 of 1978 in relation to the retirement age of judges.
Under the proposed amendment, the retirement age of Supreme Court judges is expected to be increased from 65 to 67, while the retirement age of Court of Appeal judges would be extended from 63 to 65.
The proposed changes are aimed at reducing delays in the judicial system and retaining the services of experienced senior judges.
However, the proposed amendment has become a subject of significant debate in political and legal circles as the government moves ahead with its presentation to Parliament.
Under the Constitution, a period of 14 days is available to challenge a Bill before the Supreme Court after it is presented to Parliament.
The Supreme Court is required to communicate its determination to Parliament within a period of between three and 21 days after considering such a petition. (Newswire)