The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka has expressed concern over the 22nd Amendment, which was proposed by the Cabinet and published in the Gazette on 7 August.
The Bishops’ Conference has stressed that the independence of the judiciary, the rule of law and the principle of separation of powers must always be safeguarded.
This position was expressed in a statement signed by the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka, Rt. Rev. Dr. Harold Anthony Perera, and its Secretary General, Rt. Rev. Dr. Anton Ranjith.
The Bishops’ Conference emphasized that an independent and impartial judiciary is essential for ensuring justice, protecting fundamental rights, upholding human dignity and safeguarding the public interest.
It also called for any constitutional amendment aimed at increasing the retirement age of judges to be carefully designed in a manner that further strengthens the independence of the judiciary.
The Conference stressed that retaining experienced judges, addressing the shortage of judicial officers and reducing delays in the administration of justice should be the primary objectives of such an amendment.
It further called for any changes affecting the judiciary to be carefully considered, ensuring that neither the independence of the judiciary nor public confidence in the judicial system is undermined.