⚖️ UNP Rejects Judicial Tenure Extension, Urges IMF-Backed Reforms

• Key Issues & Judicial Backlog: • UNP Working Committee rejected the Government's proposal to extend judges' retirement age, stating it fails to address Sri Lanka’s judicial system efficiency. • An estimated 1.1 million cases remain pending nationwide. • Contract enforcement takes six to seven years on average, creating major cost delays for banking & finance and private sector loan enforcement. • Colombo District Court has nearly 45,000 pending debt recovery cases (approx. 2,000 cases per judge). • District Judges manage ~2,000 cases annually, while Magistrates handle over 5,000 cases per year alongside severe support staff shortages. • IMF Diagnostic Recommendations & Counter-Proposals: • The IMF Governance Diagnostic Assessment identified administrative weaknesses, not judicial tenure, as the primary cause of court delays. • Recommended actions include establishing a dedicated special court, expanding Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), streamlining court administration, and strengthening judicial research support. • UNP urged suspending the constitutional amendment, prioritizing immediate filling of judicial vacancies, and targeting a backlog reduction of 300,000 to 400,000 cases before pursuing tenure changes.