Opposition takes to the streets
Sri Lanka's main opposition held a street protest on Thursday against a package of judicial reforms, among them a plan to raise the retirement age for judges. The government argues the changes are necessary to ease chronic delays in the legal system. Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa addressed thousands of supporters outside parliament and said the legislation put forward by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's left-wing administration would annihilate judicial independence.[S1]
The government presented two bills last month. One would expand the number of courthouses, and another would establish new appellate courts outside the capital. The package also proposes lifting the retirement age of all judges by two years and recruiting additional magistrates and staff.[S1]
