Category: Daily Financial Times

Can our blessed island nation monetise meditation and mindfulness? Sri Lanka has spent decades selling itself as sun, sea, sand and safari. This is a splendid way to promote a tropical paradise such as ours… until one notices that other Indian Ocean nations have swathes of beach.

Also observe that elephants and leopards are no longer unique selling propositions, and every second touristy country now promises ‘authentic wellness experiences’ with suspiciously expensive herbal tea to boot!

Meanwhile, right under our saffron-robed noses lies perhaps our island’s most under-leveraged tourism asset of all: religious and cultural tourism. Or to put it less piously and more economically, Buddhism – over and above its salvific praxis – may yet help to balance our balance of payments.

Twin luminous lights

Every May and June, Sri Lanka undergoes a transformation that no tourism campaign has properly captured to date. Vesak and Poson turn our blessed isle into a luminous theatre of devotion. Lanterns flicker across villages and towns, temples glow through the night atop high mountains, and dansal-based generosity erupts spontaneously while pandals dazzle and instruct.

More importantly perhaps, millions travel internally in what may be one of South Asia’s largest movements of peaceful pilgrimage.

Yet, remarkably, the State – to say nothing of tourism authorities and hoteliering operations – treat travel in these months as ‘off-season’ tourism! That, I’m sorry to say, is not a failure of government or geography or even our culture… it is a failure of the Sri Lankan imagination.

Traditional lags and lapses

Tourism statistics over the past 25 years show May and June traditionally lagging behind the December to February ‘peak-season’ highs. Even in record-breaking 2025, May recorded the lowest monthly tourism footfall of the year despite an all-time-high for the month itself. Sri Lanka welcomed 132,919 visitors in May 2025, while tourism earnings for the month stood at $ 164 million – the weakest monthly revenue figure of the year.

Which raises a rather obvious question. Why are we failing miserably to monetise a globally significant religious-cultural season that already exists organically and authentically?

In fact, in a milieu in which Sri Lanka’s name is taken reverently on the lips of literally billions of devotees around the world, thanks to the UN’s official recognition of Vesak as an international event!

(Thank you once again to the late great Sri Lankbhimanya Lakshman Kadirgamar, who put Sri Lanka on the map in this regard – refer my column last week at https://www.ft.lk/columns/Our-Vesak-gift-or-how-to-rebuild-a-civilised-nation/4-792632).

Treasury of riches

This is especially ironic at a time when global travellers increasingly seek precisely the things Sri Lanka already possesses: mindfulness, spirituality, slow travel, community immersion, heritage experiences and emotional authenticity.

Thailand understood this years ago. Vietnam is learning this vital national lesson quite well… and rapidly, too. And Japan monetised Zen so successfully that tourists now pay handsomely to sweep temple gardens in utter silence.

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, still markets itself internationally with the subtle sophistication of a faded airline poster from 1994.

Thousands upon thousands

This is curious. Because Buddhism is not a niche market. Some 500 million adherents of this sublime philosophy worldwide live primarily across East and South-East Asia. Add the wider wellness, spiritual retreat and slow-travel segments, and the potential audience becomes enormous – easily in the early billions.

Even more importantly, Buddhist travellers tend to spend steadily, travel respectfully, and stay longer. They are certainly not chasing Instagram sunsets and cocktail happy hours. They seek experience, connection, and meaning. Even enlightenment.

Tourism circuit par excellence

Sri Lanka already possesses the building blocks of a world-class Buddhism tourism circuit. Anuradhapura and environs at all times. Mihintale under a Poson poya moon. Kandy’s superlative Temple of the Tooth relic. Dambulla’s intriguing cave monasteries. Kelaniya temple and its hallowed precincts in Vesak season.

The reclusive Ritigala for contemplative trekking. Arankele for forest monasticism. Nagadeepa for a one-of-a-kind pilgrimage. Kataragama for interfaith spirituality and the spectacle of magical rituals.

And even Colombo’s splendid pandals – frequently shared virally by astonished foreigners – possess untapped touristic value.

Yet, what does the average visitor encounter?

Abysmal transport. Absent, misleading or indecipherable signage. Minimal multilingual interpretation. Poor digital integration. Inconsistent sanitation. Limited curated itineraries.

And worst of all, indifferent coordination between State authorities, municipalities, temples, and accommodation and transport networks.

Don’t forget – in fact, dispense with or drastically improve – marketing campaigns that too often confuse ‘promotion’ with merely printing another smiling peacock logo.

Sri Lanka’s tourism problem is not a lack of product or potential. It is a lack of packaging and persuasiveness.

Two months of enlightenment

Consider what could be done.

A properly curated ‘Island of Enlightenment’ campaign could market the sublime Vesak-Poson season as a two-month-long immersive cultural pilgrimage.

Airlines could bundle pilgrimage circuits. Railways could run heritage pilgrim trains. Hotels could offer meditation retreats tied to temple festivals. Provincial councils could create lantern trails, heritage walks and temple food festivals. Local artisans could monetise handicrafts sustainably instead of relying on seasonal charity.

Technology, too, is embarrassingly underused by Sri Lanka’s tourism promoters. Visitors should be able to scan a QR code at Mihintale, say, and instantly access multilingual storytelling, augmented reality recreations, meditation audio guides and historical interpretation helps.

A Japan or South Korea and Singapore would have already done this… yesterday.

Instead, Sri Lanka often acts as if tourism promotion still means attending trade fairs with glossy brochures and stale cashew nut packets.

The irony is that authentic experience – the hardest commodity to manufacture artificially – is something Sri Lanka possesses naturally (and in abundance at that) during Vesak and Poson. And many discerning tourists have already noticed it.

Online travel forums increasingly feature foreigners asking specifically where best to experience Vesak in Sri Lanka. Travellers speak of wandering through lantern-lit streets, receiving free meals from strangers, and discovering a form of communal spirituality absent in much of the modern world.

That emotional memory of some touristic experiences has economic value.

Tourism revenue blind spots

At present, Sri Lanka does not separately quantify religious and cultural tourism revenue comprehensively – and this in itself reveals an institutional blind spot.

Tourism overall generated roughly $ 3.25 billion in 2025 from 2.36 million arrivals. But the island could realistically aim to capture a specialised Buddhist-cultural tourism segment worth several hundred million dollars annually in five, six, seven, years if it is marketed strategically and sustainably.

Not through mass-tourism-vulgarity. But through premiumised authenticity. And with quiet class rather than querulous crassness.

That means fewer casino fantasies and more heritage conservation. Fewer random beautification projects and more functioning public conveniences. And less slogans about ‘so…’, ‘like no other’, ‘the wonder of Asia’, etc., and more actual visitor facilitation.

Above all, sustainability matters.

Tourist dollars trap

Sri Lanka cannot afford to destroy sacred spaces in the pursuit of tourist dollars. Thailand’s over-commercialised temples offer cautionary lessons. Religious tourism succeeds only when spirituality remains genuine and communities benefit directly.

Done intelligently, however, Vesak and Poson could become not merely local festivals, but national economic seasons.

A country such as Sri Lanka, once bankrupt in terms of finances but rich in civilisation, ought to know how to monetise spirituality – and the attendant wisdom of the ages – without selling its soul.

And if Sri Lanka truly wishes to stand apart from regional competitors, perhaps the answer is not to become another Bangkok or Bali. But to become more fully itself.

Being mindful about numbers

Over the past quarter-century, May and June have barely been blockbuster months for tourist arrivals compared to the European winter season (officially, 1 November to 30 April).

Yet, recent Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) data reveals a quiet but important shift.

May 2025 recorded 132,919 arrivals – an 18.5% increase, year-on-year – while June rose to 138, 241 visitors, up 21.8% over 2024.

Tourism earnings in May 2025 reached $ 164.1 million, the highest ever recorded for a May since 2019 even though it remained the weakest monthly inflow of the year.

In other words … the floor is rising – even if the ceiling has not been lifted.

More significantly, Sri Lanka earned approximately $ 3.2 billion dollars from tourism in 2025 from 3.26 million arrivals – still below the roughly $ 4.4 billion generated in 2018 despite similar visitor numbers.

That disparity matters enormously. It suggests the country is attracting more volume without sufficiently increasing value. Or, translated from Economics into English: we are hosting more tourists, but extracting fewer dollars per traveller.

This is precisely where religious and cultural tourism could become transformative.

A well-designed Vesak-Poson tourism strategy should not aim merely for higher footfall. The smarter target would be higher-spending, longer-staying, culturally motivated travellers.

If Sri Lanka successfully positions itself as South Asia’s premier Buddhist experiential destination, attracting even an additional 150,000 to 200,000 high-value spiritual and cultural visitors annually over the next five years, the country could conservatively generate an extra $ 300-400 million in yearly foreign exchange earnings.

Push that ecosystem further. Integrate wellness retreats, meditation residencies, heritage railway circuits, eco-pilgrimages and boutique cultural hospitality. And then the medium-term potential edges closer to a billion-dollar niche segment within the broader tourism economy.

That is not fantasy. Thailand already earns billions annually from faith-linked tourism ecosystems connected to Buddhist heritage, wellness and spiritual travel, while Japan monetises Zen aesthetics with respectful but ruthless sophistication.

Sri Lanka by comparison remains oddly shy about commercialising what it already possesses organically: authenticity, a panoply of experiences amidst a naturally hospitable people, and the native blessing of sacred geography.

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) suddenly increased interest rates a few days ago. This was to stop further depreciation of the rupee or to stabilise the exchange value of the rupee by containing private credit growth. Many writers, including the writer of this essay, have pointed out that excessive private credit growth could destabilise the managed exchange rate mechanism.

It has happened now. However, now it seems the obvious solution was to increase the interest rates, thinking that borrowers would respond by reducing borrowing. This policy action of CBSL was completely a reactive one. The country wants CBSL to make proactive policy decisions and take action based on unbiased economic forecasts. Just a few weeks ago, CBSL’s tone was completely different. To be exact, on 2 April 2026, Dr. Lasith Pathberiya, the Economic Research Director of CBSL, said: ‘interest rates are expected to ease, with private sector credit continuing to grow’ ( 2 April 2026, Daily FT). It was a completely wrong signal to the market, lenders and borrowers. In regard to the IMF framework, this was not what they expected.

IMF’s fourth staff review insists that expected private credit growth should be as follows.

According to the IMF framework for the year 2025, private credit growth must not be exceeded over 9.4% of GDP. But actual data show that Private Credit Growth increased by 25% in 2025. IMF’s estimate for the year 2026 is 11%. But the same pattern was to continue for 2026 if the recent exchange rate crisis had not happened. It was an early warning. For the first quarter of 2026, private credit growth exceeded 20%. At the very beginning of the second quarter, on April 02, 2026 as mentioned above, the CBSL declared that interest rates would ease and private credit would continue to grow. This is a clear deviation from IMF framework.

We are not saying that Sri Lanka must strictly adhere to benchmark estimates of the IMF. Instead, we suggest that Sri Lanka deviate from those estimates only if the country can sustain those deviations positively and viably.

If CBSL wants to deviate from IMF framework, then it must create the necessary conditions to do it. This means that CBSL should have a clear idea of how much private credit growth it could tolerate deviating from IMF’s estimates without having no negative impact on the managed exchange rate mechanism. Without having such unbiased forecasts, allowing excessive private credit growth to rise until the country faces a real exchange rate crisis and uncertainty on the domestic currency is a monetary crime. As a remedy, the CBSL increased the rate of interest. Still, investors and markets are having real uncertainty.

Some economists look at one single variable to understand whether the country’s economy is growing. That variable is private credit growth. If private credit growth is increasing, it means the economy is growing. But increasing private credit growth could bring a negative impact on the national current account too, creating unnecessary pressure on dollar reserves and creating exchange rate instability. All these mean that, if the private credit growth is increasing without creating any instability on exchange rate, then we can be happy that the country is growing sustainably. It seems this was not what happened in the previous year and the first quarter of this year, even though the country recorded higher growth rates.

Therefore, the primary role of CBSL in regard to economic growth, no matter whether it is written in the CBSL Act or not, is to ensure optimum private credit growth while ensuring exchange rate stability. This is a challenging and necessary role, rather than increasing policy rates by a certain percentage.

Following a three-day visit to Sri Lanka, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Executive Board delegation met with Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya at Temple Trees, Thursday.

Welcoming the delegation, Dr. Amarasuriya expressed her appreciation for UNICEF’s continued support to Sri Lanka, particularly in advancing the rights and wellbeing of children. She also commended UNICEF’s timely assistance and recovery efforts in response to Cyclone Ditwah.

Discussions focused on strengthening legal protections for children, including measures to prevent all forms of violence against children and address child malnutrition.

The Prime Minister further noted that the occasion presented a valuable opportunity to strengthen collaboration between UNICEF and the Government of Sri Lanka. She emphasised that while Sri Lanka possesses a strong policy and legal framework, attention must be paid to ensuring effective implementation and enforcement in addressing existing challenges affecting children and vulnerable communities.

The UNICEF representatives commended the Government’s ongoing education reform process and expressed their willingness to continue assisting in achieving its objectives and promoting child-sensitive programs.

The meeting was attended by UNICEF Executive Board President and Permanent Representative of Estonia to the UN Rein Tammsaar, UNICEF Executive Board Vice President and Permanent Representative of Eritrea to the UN Sophia Tesfamariam, UNICEF Executive Board Vice President and Permanent Representative of the Dominican Republic to the UN Alejandra Hernandez Gonzalez, members of the UNICEF Executive Board delegation, Prime Minister’s Secretary Pradeep Saputhanthri, Additional Secretary Sagarika Bogahawatta, and officials from Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Ministry.

Two of Sri Lanka’s most historic educational institutions will once again come together in the spirit of sportsmanship and friendship when Jaffna Central College (JCC) and Wesley College, Colombo contest their annual football encounters today (6), at the Wesley College Grounds, Campbell Park, Borella.

The event, featuring three matches across different age groups and alumni teams, is expected to draw students, old boys, and football enthusiasts from both schools in what has become a meaningful symbol of North-South camaraderie through sport.

The annual football encounters were inaugurated in Jaffna in 2024 with the objective of strengthening community goodwill and fostering sporting ties between two institutions that share a rich educational heritage.

Both schools were founded by Methodist missionaries and have made significant contributions to the development of sport in Sri Lanka.

Jaffna Central College, celebrating over 210 years of educational excellence, is recognised as the third-oldest school in Sri Lanka and is credited with introducing cricket, football, and scouting to the Northern Province.

Wesley College, one of the country’s leading schools, recently celebrated its 150th anniversary, underscoring its long-standing contribution to education and sport.

This year’s encounters mark the resumption of the series after Wesley College was unable to host the event in 2025 due to circumstances beyond its control.

Proceedings will commence at 2.00 p.m. with the Under-16 encounter, followed by the Old Boys’ match at 3.00 p.m.

The highlight of the day, the Under-20 encounter, will kick off at 4.15 p.m. following the introduction of the teams and the singing of the respective college songs.

The day’s activities will conclude with a presentation ceremony, vote of thanks, and refreshments for participants and guests.

Trinity College produced a dominant display to overpower Wesley College 43-10 in their Dialog Schools Under-19 Rugby League 2026 Cup Segment encounter played at Havelock Park yesterday.

At the short breather, Trinity led 19-0.

The Kandy lads ran in seven tries and controlled proceedings from start to finish. Wesley managed to cross for two unconverted tries but struggled to contain the powerful Trinity attack. Trinity’s victory was built on strong forward play and swift backline movements, while their four successful conversions added further gloss to an impressive performance.

Trinity’s tries were scored by Akash Fernando, Udan Wijekoon, Nisith Kumarasinghe, Ammar Manzil, Shan Althaf, and Achintha Jayasema (2).

Shan Althaf converted three tries, while Amher Faizal converted one. Wesley’s tries were scored by Prarthana Rodrigo and Nelith Hapugalle.

In the Plate Segment clash at Nittawela, Thurstan College recorded a hard-fought 14-12 win over St. Anthony’s College in one of the closest contests of the week. Both teams scored two tries each, but Thurstan’s ability to convert both of their tries proved decisive. The Antonians fought bravely and kept the game alive until the final whistle, but the Colombo school held on for a narrow two-point victory.

Meanwhile, in the Bowl Segment fixture at the Air Force Ground in Ratmalana, Prince of Wales College suffered a 27-21 defeat against D.S. Senanayake College. DSS crossed the line five times and showed excellent attacking flair throughout the game. Prince of Wales responded with three converted tries but could not match the visitors’ scoring rate. The win gave DSS valuable points and maintained their momentum in the competition.

The implementation of National Anti-Corruption Action Plan 2025-2029 and the functioning of Internal Affairs Units established within State institutions came under review at a discussion held under the patronage of Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

The meeting held at the Presidential Secretariat on 29 May, focused on strengthening anti-corruption efforts in key revenue-generating and revenue-collecting institutions, including Sri Lanka Customs, the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) and the Department of Excise.

Officials reviewed measures currently being implemented to enhance anti-corruption initiatives and promote a culture of integrity within these institutions. Discussions also covered future initiatives aimed at further strengthening ethical governance, improving accountability and fostering a stronger culture of integrity across the public sector.

The meeting was attended by Additional Secretary to the President Chandima Wickramasinghe, Sri Lanka Customs Director General W.S.K. Liyanagama, IRD Commissioner General R.P.H. Fernando, and Excise Department Commissioner General M.B.N.A. Pemarathna, together with the heads of the Internal Affairs Units of the respective institutions.

The Cabinet of Ministers have approved repairing and restoring street lighting along key sections of the Colombo-Katunayake Expressway at an estimated cost of Rs. 1,098.50 million, in a move aimed at improving road safety on one of the country’s busiest transport corridors.

Announcing the decision at the weekly post-Cabinet media briefing, Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said the project will be implemented in two phases through contracted work, focusing initially on the most critical stretches of the expressway.

Given the high cost of lighting the entire length of the highway, he said the authorities have prioritised key interchanges and high-traffic segments in the first phase.

‘These include the Peliyagoda, Kerawalapitiya, Seeduwa and Ja-Ela interchanges, as well as the stretches from the New Kelani Bridge to the Peliyagoda Fish Market and from Seeduwa to the Bandaranaike International Airport,’ he added.

Dr. Jayatissa said around 85% of the expressway’s lighting system is currently non-functional, largely due to vandalism and theft. He noted that significant portions of the highway have remained in darkness for extended periods, raising safety concerns for motorists and commuters.

HNB PLC has entered into a strategic partnership with Hayleys Agriculture Holdings Ltd. to expand leasing solutions for modern agricultural machinery across Sri Lanka.

Through this partnership, HNB will support farmers and agribusinesses in acquiring tractors, combine harvesters, and other essential agricultural equipment marketed under the globally reputed Kubota and Agrotech brands.

The partnership focuses on improving access to a wide range of agricultural machinery, including the Kubota L4508 Tractor, E-Kubota EK3 471 4WD Tractor, and E-Kubota EK3 501 2WD Tractor under the tractor category. The Combine Harvester range includes the Kubota DC 93G and DC 70G models, alongside the Agrotech 110 Pro. The portfolio is further complemented by machinery such as the Kubota K15 Plus Power Tiller, Agrotech Belt Tractor, and Agrotech Rice Milling Machine.

HNB Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Sanjay Wijemanne, said: ‘This partnership highlights our long-term commitment to strengthening Sri Lanka’s agricultural community and supporting the wider economy. By improving access to advanced machinery through practical leasing solutions, we are enabling farmers to enhance productivity, strengthen resilience, and invest with confidence. As the agricultural sector grows, communities gain greater stability and opportunity, contributing directly to the progress of the national economy’.

This initiative comes at a pivotal time for Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector, where improved efficiency, productivity, and mechanisation are essential to supporting national food security and sustainable agricultural development. By combining HNB’s financial expertise with Hayleys Agriculture’s industry leadership, the partnership aims to empower farmers and agribusinesses with access to reliable, advanced, and productivity – enhancing mechanisation solutions.

Hayleys Agriculture Holdings Managing Director Jayanthi Dharmasena said: ‘Our collaboration with HNB represents a significant step in expanding access to globally recognised agricultural machinery across Sri Lanka. Through the integration of reliable financing and high-quality technology, we aim to empower farmers and agribusinesses with the tools required to enhance efficiency, elevate productivity, and support sustainable growth’.

With its strong legacy in financial services, HNB continues to advance economic progress, while Hayleys Agriculture Holdings Ltd brings deep expertise in delivering innovative agricultural solutions. Together, the two institutions are setting a new benchmark for agricultural financing and mechanisation in Sri Lanka.

Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Deputy Minister Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe has been recognised with the 2026 SITF Eminent Tourism Pioneer Award at the 41st Seoul International Travel Fair (SITF) in South Korea, becoming the first Sri Lankan to receive the international honour.

The award was presented on 4 June at the SamcheongGak cultural complex in Seoul following an evaluation process conducted by the SITF Tourism Award Committee, which assesses contributions to tourism research and industry development.

According to Sri Lanka Tourism, the annual award recognises individuals who have made significant contributions to the advancement of the tourism sector through academic, policy and industry engagement. This year, three South Korean and three international tourism personalities were selected.

Sri Lanka Tourism said Prof. Ranasinghe’s recognition marks the first time in the 41-year history of the Seoul International Travel Fair that a Sri Lankan has been included among the award recipients.

In a statement, Prof. Ranasinghe said the recognition reflected Sri Lanka’s growing visibility within the global tourism industry and highlighted the country’s efforts to strengthen its position as a tourism destination.

The recognition comes as Sri Lanka continues efforts to expand tourism arrivals and earnings, with the sector remaining one of the country’s key sources of foreign exchange. Authorities have been pursuing initiatives aimed at improving destination competitiveness, strengthening tourism infrastructure and diversifying tourism offerings.

Sri Lanka Tourism said the award also highlighted the country’s contribution to tourism research and policy development, while supporting broader efforts to position Sri Lanka within international tourism networks and industry forums.

A group of senior lawyers, academics and legal practitioners operating as the Lawyers’ Collective has expressed strong opposition to reports that the Government is considering extending 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 courts.

In a statement, the Lawyers’ Collective endorsed concerns previously raised by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) and cautioned that any amendment to the Constitution altering the retirement age of superior court judges would represent a significant change to the judicial system that requires careful public scrutiny.

The group noted that the retirement age of superior court judges is currently prescribed under Article 107(5) of the Constitution and any change would require a constitutional amendment. According to the statement, public reports indicate that a draft amendment is being prepared by the Legal Draftsman’s Department.

The Lawyers’ Collective argued that particular concern arises if the proposed amendment is intended to apply to sitting judges. It said such a measure could be perceived as an attempt to preserve the existing composition of the superior courts by allowing current judges to remain in office for longer periods.

The statement described the extension of tenure for sitting judges as a potential form of ‘court-packing’ and cited comparative constitutional scholarship that recognises changes to judicial tenure as a mechanism that can affect judicial independence. The group argued that granting serving judges an extension beyond their existing retirement age could be viewed as conferring a benefit on judges by the executive, thereby creating concerns about the separation of powers and judicial autonomy.

The Lawyers’ Collective also cited observations made by the Supreme Court in the case of Pathirathne v. Abeywardena, which emphasised the importance of public confidence in the judiciary and noted that even suspicion regarding a judge could affect trust in the judicial system. The group argued that any move perceived as favouring sitting judges could create doubts regarding the impartiality of future judicial decisions.

The statement further referred to reports issued by United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers Margaret Satterthwaite, which identify politically motivated changes to judicial tenure and court composition as potential risks to judicial independence. According to the Lawyers’ Collective, international experience demonstrates that altering retirement ages or extending judicial terms can create perceptions of political influence over courts.

Beyond concerns about judicial independence, the group criticised the process through which the proposal is reportedly being developed. It said the amendment appeared to be proceeding without adequate public consultation and argued that such an approach was inconsistent with commitments to participatory governance and public discourse.

The Lawyers’ Collective also questioned why the Government was pursuing a limited constitutional amendment affecting the judiciary while broader constitutional reform proposals promised during the election campaign remain unimplemented. It said piecemeal constitutional amendments undertaken without wider public discussion risk undermining confidence in the reform process.

The statement concluded by calling on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara and the Government’s leadership to abandon efforts to introduce a constitutional amendment extending the retirement age of judges of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal.

The statement was signed by 19 members of the Lawyers’ Collective, including President’s Counsel Geoffrey Alagaratnam, President’s Counsel M.A. Sumanthiran, President’s Counsel M.M. Zuhair, President’s Counsel Anura Meddegoda, Professor Savitri Goonesekere and Professor Camena Guneratne.