Sri Lanka, June 27 -- The Law Association for Asia and the Pacific (LAWASIA) has called on the Sri Lankan Government to refrain from proceeding with the proposed Constitutional amendments aimed at increasing the retirement age of judges of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, warning that such a move could undermine judicial independence and public confidence in the country's legal system.

In a statement issued on June 26, LAWASIA President TL Yap endorsed concerns previously expressed by the Commonwealth Lawyers' Association (CLA) and urged the Sri Lankan authorities to avoid piecemeal and ad hoc Constitutional reforms.

The regional legal body called on the Government to ensure that any Constitutional changes are undertaken only aft...