⚖️ Sri Lanka Proposes 2-Year Judicial Retirement Extension to Clear 1.13M Case Backlog

• Proposed Retirement Age Adjustments: - Supreme Court: 65 to 67 years - Court of Appeal: 63 to 65 years - High Court: 61 to 63 years - District & Magistrate’s Courts: 60 to 62 years • Pending Case Backlog (1,134,474 Total across 293 Courts as of June 2025): - Magistrate’s Courts: 818,869 cases (72.2% of total) - District Courts: 260,007 cases - High Court (Criminal): 27,376 cases - Civil Appellate High Court: 6,591 cases - Commercial High Court: 6,330 cases - Supreme Court: 5,396 cases - Court of Appeal: 5,216 cases • Institutional & Public Impact: - Aimed at utilizing senior legal expertise to mentor new recruits and reduce severe court delays across Sri Lanka's judiciary and governance sector. - Addresses acute understaffing and infrastructure gaps that disrupt efficiency across Sri Lanka's legal system. - Measures face scrutiny from legal factions over promotion pathways and judicial independence, while supporters highlight public interest and the democratic mandate for systemic reform. [Judges' Retirement Age: Dr. Udagama Explains](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kl4-VDLpNQ) This video offers further context and legal analysis regarding the debate over extending the retirement age of judges in Sri Lanka.