Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has called for the establishment of a Parliamentary Select Committee to develop long-term solutions to Sri Lanka’s growing backlog of pending court cases.
Speaking to the media, Wickremesinghe questioned the government’s justification for extending the retirement age of judges, saying the move alone would not be sufficient to resolve the mounting delays within the judicial system.
He noted that the Minister of Justice had informed Parliament that approximately 1.1 million cases are currently pending before courts across the country, highlighting the urgent need for broader judicial reforms.
Wickremesinghe said he had requested the Leader of the Opposition to submit a proposal to the government seeking the appointment of a Select Committee to examine practical measures to reduce the case backlog and improve the efficiency of the justice system.
According to the former President, such a committee should focus on identifying structural reforms and recommending sustainable solutions to ensure faster case disposal rather than relying solely on extending judges’ retirement ages.
The proposal comes amid ongoing discussions on judicial reforms and efforts to improve the efficiency of Sri Lanka’s court system.
