Nothing happened to the letter we sent regarding the judge's retirement age - Malwathu Mahanayake Thero told Free Lawyers

The Most Venerable Thibbotuwawe Sri Sumangala Maha Nayaka Thero of the Malwathu Chapter stated that there is no information yet regarding what happened to the letter sent to the President by the Mahanayaka Theros of the Three Nikayas, requesting not to extend the retirement age of judges. His Holiness stated that even whether the letter was received by the President's Office has not been communicated to the Mahanayaka Theros to date.

His Holiness revealed this when a delegation of lawyers, including Mr. Maithri Gunaratne PC, President of the Free Lawyers' Organization, visited Kandy to explain the controversial situation that has arisen regarding the retirement age of judges, and met with the Mahanayaka Thero.

Speaking there, President's Counsel Maithri Gunaratne pointed out that taking steps to extend the service period of judges who are nearing retirement is akin to bribing them. He also stated that although all parties in the country have unanimously opposed the decision to extend the retirement age limit of judges, the current government is proceeding without taking these protests into account at all.

Mr. Maithri Gunaratne further accused that the government, which has failed even to restore the elevator in the Kandy Court Complex that has been out of order for ten months, intends to control the judicial system as it wishes by extending the judges' retirement period. He stated that this action will not be allowed under any circumstances, and that steps will be taken to fight against it in collaboration with the Bar Association through a free struggle center, regardless of political party differences.

A group including Attorney-at-Law Shiral Lakthilaka, social activist Ravi Kumudesh, and Attorney-at-Law Buddhika Samarasinghe, representing the Kandy Bar Association, also participated in this meeting with the Mahanayaka Thero.