⚖️ Sri Lanka's Proposed 22nd Amendment: Reform vs. Judicial Independence Debate

The Government of Sri Lanka has introduced reforms under the proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution aimed at modernizing the judiciary, clearing massive case backlogs, and boosting system efficiency. • Key System Challenges & Context • Sri Lanka currently faces over 1.1 million pending court cases. • Historical political interference and institutional issues have long impacted governance and rule of law. • Historical corruption, political misuse of public funds, and weak judicial independence metrics highlight the urgent need for institutional integrity. • Key Proposed Judicial Reforms • Retirement Age Extension: Supreme Court judges extended from 65 to 67 years; Court of Appeal judges from 63 to 65 years; High Court judges from 61 to 63 years; other judges/magistrates set at 62. • Bench & Infrastructure Expansion: Expands Court of Appeal judges from 19 to 24, expands legal infrastructure to rural regions, and increases prison capacity. • Constitutional Oversight: Restructures the Constitutional Council to supervise independent commissions (e.g., Police, Audit, Human Rights). • Modernization & Tech: Retains experienced senior judges to accelerate adoption of AI and digital systems to streamline court backlogs and enhance efficiency. • Debate & Opposition Arguments • Opposition parties and the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) oppose extending judicial tenures, claiming it could compromise judicial independence. • Proponents argue the amendment provides a holistic, multidisciplinary approach that combines tenure extensions, digital transformation, and structural checks to clear backlogs efficiently.