22A Gazetted: Supreme Court Judges to Serve Until 67

COLOMBO (News 1st); The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution has been officially gazetted.

According to the Bill published in the Government Gazette, the retirement age of Supreme Court Judges is proposed to be increased to 67 years, while the retirement age of Court of Appeal Judges is to be increased to 65 years.

The proposed amendment also introduces a new provision relating to the Chief Justice. Under the Bill, the Chief Justice's tenure will end either upon reaching the age of 67 or upon completing six years in office as Chief Justice, whichever occurs first.

Another key reform contained in the legislation is the proposed expansion of the Court of Appeal. The Bill seeks to increase the maximum number of Court of Appeal judges from 19 to 24.

The legislation, titled the Twenty Second Amendment to the Constitution, was ordered to be published by the Minister of Justice and National Integration and now moves to the next stages of the legislative process before Parliament.