COLOMBO, July 28 -- Sri Lanka's Cabinet has approved a proposal to amend the Constitution and the Judicature Act No. 2 of 1978 to increase the mandatory retirement age of judges, with the government saying the move is aimed at retaining experienced judges and reducing the country's mounting court backlog.

Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Nalinda Jayatissa announced that the proposal received Cabinet approval this week, adding that the Legal Draftsman has been instructed to prepare the necessary amendments to the Constitution and the Judicature Act.

"The need to increase the existing statutory retirement age of judges has been identified so that the courts can continue to benefit from the services of experienced and knowledgeable judges," ...