In the midst of this deepening crisis, a single voice of integrity has emerged from an unexpected quarter. Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara, himself an attorney who took an oath to defend the Constitution, has done something extraordinary. He has publicly denied that the government is considering extending the retirement age of superior court judges. He dismissed the suggestion as having no basis in any active proposal or discussion. He said he had no knowledge of any such matter and that no policy shift of that nature was currently under consideration.
Let us applaud this man without hesitation. Minister Nanayakkara spoke these words knowing full well the political cost. He spoke them while the President is allegedly entertaining a two year extension for Chief Justice Surasena and while rumors swirl of a broader judicial capture. He spoke them without hiding behind vague language or diplomatic evasion. He spoke them as a lawyer first and a minister second. That is courage. That is rare. And it must be recognized.
The Bar Association of Sri Lanka and other professional bodies had raised alarm over reports that the government was preparing a constitutional amendment to alter the retirement ages of Supreme Court and Court of Appeal judges. Those reports were credible enough to cause panic across the legal community. But Minister Nanayakkara has now drawn a line in the sand. He has told the President, the cabinet, and the Chief Justice himself that no such plan exists under his watch. Whether he was authorized to say this or simply chose to speak the truth, the effect is the same. The government has been put on notice.
Now the question turns back to the President. If no extension of retirement ages is under consideration, then what of Surasena’s personal request for a two year extension? That request is not a matter of general policy. It is a matter of one man’s unconstitutional ambition. The Minister of Justice has denied a policy shift. He has not denied the request itself. The President must now follow the example set by his own minister. He must publicly refuse Surasena’s demand, reaffirm that no justice has ever received an extension, and declare that the lawful term ending December 2026 will be respected.
We salute Harshana Nanayakkara for his courage. But courage without follow through is merely theater. The President must act. The government must decide. And the people will hold every silence accountable. The fight has entered a new phase. The minister has spoken. Now let the President speak.
