Sri Lanka’s opposition protests against contentious judicial reforms

Sri Lanka’s main opposition took to the streets on Thursday to protest against judicial reforms, including raising the retirement age for judges, that the government says are needed to reduce legal delays.

Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa told thousands of supporters outside parliament that the legislation proposed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s left-wing administration would “annihilate” judicial independence.

The government unveiled two bills last month to increase the number of courthouses, create new appellate courts outside the capital, raise the retirement age of all judges by two years and recruit additional magistrates and staff.