The Government is considering extending the retirement age of judges by two years to address a shortage of judicial officers and help reduce the growing backlog of court cases, Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said.
Speaking at the weekly Cabinet media briefing, Dr. Jayatissa said expediting the judicial process is essential to restoring public confidence in the justice system, which has come under increasing criticism over prolonged delays in hearing cases.
He noted that courts at every level, from the Magistrate’s Courts to the Supreme Court, are burdened with a large number of pending cases. He also pointed out that the concentration of key courts in Colombo has created additional inconvenience for the public.
The Minister said the 20th Amendment to the Constitution increased the number of Supreme Court judges from 11 to 17 and Court of Appeal judges from 12 to 20, but added that the expansion had not adequately considered retirement age limits.
According to Dr. Jayatissa, the judiciary is now facing a severe shortage of experienced professionals due to the large-scale migration of skilled personnel following the 2022 economic crisis, coupled with difficulties in attracting new recruits to the public sector.
He revealed that a recent recruitment drive for 50 magistrates attracted only 33 applicants, adding that there is no guarantee all successful candidates will remain in public service over the long term.
To address the immediate shortage, Dr. Jayatissa said the Cabinet has instructed the Ministry of Justice to prepare a comprehensive report evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of extending judges’ retirement age before a final decision is taken.
The Minister also said the Government has taken steps to strengthen the Department of the Government Analyst by recruiting 32 assistant analysts. Of these, 25 have already been appointed, while the remaining seven will be recruited following interviews. In addition, the Ministry of Finance has approved the recruitment of 33 more officers.
Dr. Jayatissa warned that the brain drain experienced between 2022 and 2024 has had a significant impact across the public sector, creating shortages not only in the judiciary but also in healthcare, the prison service and other essential sectors. He added that the Government is considering extending retirement ages by two years or more in several professions to help address the shortage of experienced personnel.