FSP dismisses judges’ retirement age extension as ‘not a move to catch thieves’

Thursday, 6 August 2026 06:39 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) yesterday challenged the Government’s justification for increasing the retirement age of all judges by two years, arguing that the proposed constitutional amendment was not intended to bring wrongdoers to book or reduce court delays, but instead undermined judicial independence.

Speaking at a media briefing, FSP Secretary (Education) Pubudu Jayagoda said the Government’s argument that extending the retirement age of judges would help end corruption-related cases was misleading, as such cases are not heard in the Supreme Court in the first instance.

He noted that the majority of judges hearing these cases in the Magistrates’ Courts and High Courts are between the ages of 30 and 50, making it unlikely that retirements would interrupt ongoing proceedings.

Jayagoda also rejected the suggestion that only the current judges could ensure accountability, saying it was an insult to the judiciary to suggest that newly appointed judges would be unwilling or unable to uphold the law.

“This move by the Government is not to catch thieves but is breaching the rights of the people,” he claimed.

He argued that delays in the judicial process could be addressed by filling long-standing vacancies in the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, appointing additional judges to lower courts, increasing judicial staff, and removing procedural bottlenecks.

Jayagoda accused the Government of citing delays while failing to fill key judicial vacancies.

He said increasing the retirement age of judges and retaining the existing cadre for a longer period would not resolve the delays and backlog of cases.

According to Jayagoda, the Government was citing delays in the judicial process while failing to address existing vacancies in the higher courts, including four vacancies in the Supreme Court and four in the Court of Appeal, which have remained vacant for a long period.

He also pointed out that there were around 50 vacancies in pre-trial courts and another 50 in Small Claims courts, while only 33 Magistrates had recently been recruited on the grounds that no funds had been allocated.

He said President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had the authority to fill these vacancies and improve the efficiency of the judicial system.

Claiming that the Attorney General’s Department was facing a shortage of around 200 officers, Jayagoda further questioned the Government’s rationale for focusing on extending retirement ages while failing to address these critical shortages.

The FSP also criticised both the Government and the Opposition, claiming that successive administrations had compromised judicial independence through politically motivated appointments to the office of Chief Justice.

The FSP called on the public to oppose the proposed amendment and urged them to form an independent people’s movement outside Parliament rather than relying on either the Government or the Opposition. (SS)