Legal action will be taken next week against the Government’s proposed constitutional amendment to extend the retirement age of judges, former Minister Prof G L Peiris said.

Prof Peiris made the remarks while speaking to the media following a meeting held yesterday (12) between representatives of the Joint Opposition and British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Andrew Patrick. The Joint Opposition representatives briefed Patrick on the Government’s proposal to extend the retirement age of judges.“We are going to court next week. We will convince the Supreme Court (SC) beyond any doubt that this proposed move will not provide any solution whatsoever to the backlog of cases or delays in the administration of justice. Only around one per cent of the total number of cases are before the SC and the Court of Appeal,” Prof Peiris said.“We met Patrick. There has been a long-standing and close relationship between the Sri Lankan Judiciary, Great Britain and the Commonwealth. We told him that what is happening in our country today is unbelievable,” he added.

Meanwhile, commenting on the meeting scheduled for yesterday between the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) and the President, Prof Peiris said there was little purpose in the BASL meeting the President at this stage.“There is no point in the BASL meeting the President now. A meeting has been granted only after everything has already been done,” he said.