The Attorney General has certified that the proposed constitutional and legislative amendments aimed at reforming Sri Lanka’s judicial system—including raising the retirement age of judges and increasing the number of seats in the Court of Appeal and High Courts—are in full compliance with the Constitution.
The planned reforms will introduce key amendments to the Constitution, the Judicature Act, and the Public and Judicial Officers (Retirement) Ordinance.
Key Provisions of the Proposed Amendments:
Extension of Retirement Age: The retirement age for judges across all court tiers—including the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Courts, District Courts, and Magistrates’ Courts—will be extended by two years.
Increased Bench Capacity:
The number of Court of Appeal judges will increase from 19 to 24.
The number of High Court judges will expand from 110 to 120.
Major Infrastructure Expansion Already Underway:
Alongside the legislative updates, significant physical and functional expansions have already been executed within the judicial network:
High Court Expansion: The former Civil Appellate High Court structure has been doubled to two courts. Commercial High Courts have increased from three to five, while High Courts dedicated to criminal trials have expanded from eight to eleven.
Repurposing Assets & Anti-Corruption Focus: Former ministerial residences have been repurposed into court facilities. To expedite anti-corruption cases, Bribery and Corruption trials are now heard daily across three Colombo High Court halls (Nos. 06, 10, and 11), compared to just one court previously.
Regional & Local Access: District Court powers have been granted to eight regional Magistrates’ Courts, including Deyiyandara, Agunakolapelessa, Bibile, and Galgamuwa.
Reopening & New Courts: Courts in Ratnapura, Gampaha, Anuradhapura, and Ampara—which were previously closed due to staff shortages—have been fully reactivated. Additionally, brand-new courts have been established in Puttalam, Wellawaya, Hatton, and Welisara.
Furthermore, necessary recruitment for the Government Analyst’s Department has been completed, with measures currently underway to equip the department with modern machinery to clear investigative backlogs.
