Professor G.L. Peiris says steps will be taken next week to initiate legal action against the new Bill the government is preparing to extend the retirement age of judges.
He made the remarks while speaking to the media following a meeting between a delegation of the Joint Opposition and British High Commissioner Andrew Patrick this morning (12).
Professor Peiris said steps would be taken before the Supreme Court to establish that the government’s decision would not provide a permanent solution to the delays in the country’s judicial system.
He also pointed out that only around one percent of the country’s total pending cases are before the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.
He said Sri Lanka’s judicial sector has maintained a long-standing relationship with Commonwealth countries, including the United Kingdom, and that the delegation had explained concerns regarding recent developments in the country’s judicial system to the British High Commissioner.
Meanwhile, commenting on the meeting scheduled to be held today between the Bar Association of Sri Lanka and the President, Professor G.L. Peiris said such discussions would serve no purpose if all relevant decisions had already been taken.
