The government plans to implement the proposal to extend the retirement age of Supreme Court judges before the end of this year, says Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Ajith.P. Perera.
The MP points out that there is a serious problem behind this program being carried out by the government in the context that no request has been made by any party to make such an amendment. He made this statement while participating in an electronic media program.
He revealed that the reason for bringing such a constitutional amendment or its basis has not been presented to Parliament to date, and that no parliamentary committee has discussed this issue.
Pointing out that there is a hidden political objective behind such a proposal that no one has requested, the MP added that he has now received a draft prepared through a private committee.
Speaking at the event, Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Ajith.P. Perera said,
”The Chief Justice has not requested that the retirement age of the judges of the High Courts of Sri Lanka be increased. The Supreme Court judges and the Court of Appeal judges have not made a request. The Bar Association of Sri Lanka has not requested it. Also, the High Court Judges’ Association is against it. The Bar Association of Sri Lanka is against it. Also, no one in Parliament has ever presented the basis for such an amendment until today. Also, this idea has not been discussed in any committee of Parliament. So who is bringing such a proposal? No one.
That means there is a hidden purpose in this. We have received the draft prepared through a private committee. The government is definitely doing this. It is doing this to balance the power of the judiciary.. We now know for certain that it is said to suit its political needs. There is also a target to pass this amendment by the first week of December. Therefore, this is very mysterious.”