Zimbabwe, here we come?

Monday 6th July, 2026

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s recent attempt in Parliament to defuse the ongoing controversy over his government’s plan to extend the retirement ages of the judges of the Supreme Court (SC) and the Court of Appeal (CA) has been in vain. He spoke at length, offering excuses for his failure to initiate action to fill judicial vacancies, but they did not sound convincing. They have only prompted the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) and other lawyers’ associations to reiterate their opposition to the prospect of a constitutional amendment being moved to raise the retirement ages of the SC and CA judges.

Addressing a public forum, on Saturday, BASL President Rajeev Amarasuriya reiterated his association’s opposition to the proposed move to change the SC and CA judges’ retirement ages arbitrarily. The BASL’s position has been endorsed by several legal associations, including the Colombo Law Society, the Colombo High Court Lawyers’ Association (CHCLA), LAWASIA, and the Commonwealth Lawyers’ Association (CLA).

CLA President Steven Thiru has gone to the extent of warning that Sri Lanka risks repeating Zimbabwe’s judicial crisis if it goes ahead with its controversial plan to extend the retirement ages of sitting superior court judges arbitrarily. Stating that the CLA did not object to the extension of the mandatory retirement age of judges, given changing demographic realities, Thiru pointed out that the danger lay in the politicised context and particularised application of the proposed move by the sitting executive and the legislature to alter the tenure of a few judges. He stated that Sri Lankan leaders had to heed “the sobering lesson of the Zimbabwean crisis; when a ruling government alters the rules of judicial longevity mid-stream, the damage to the legal fabric is severe. “If Sri Lanka proceeds with an ad hoc, non-transparent extension of Superior Court judges’ tenure without a broad consultative process, it risks plunging its legal system into a similar crisis of legitimacy,” he warned, noting that a structural policy matter must not be perceived as a personalised intervention; to do so would fundamentally invite public cynicism, compromise the appearance of judicial neutrality and shatter the very institutional stability that is to be protected.”

It is hoped that the JVP-NPP government will heed the concerns of lawyers’ associations, abandon its plan at issue and ensure that constitutional reforms follow proper consultation, without undermining judicial independence or public confidence in the judiciary. The JVP/NPP came to power promising a new Constitution and not politically motivated piecemeal constitutional amendments. It said in its election manifesto, inter alia, “A new constitution will be drafted and passed through a referendum with necessary changes, if any, after going through a public discourse” (A Thriving Nation: A Beautiful Life, 2024, p. 109).

As the CHCLA, in a letter to President Dissanayake, has rightly pointed out, “the Judicial Service of Sri Lanka is constituted by officers who ascend through a rigorous hierarchy … This progression is not merely a career ambition; it is a legitimate expectation, recognised and protected by the principles of natural justice and the law governing public service. Officers of the Judicial Service plan their professional and personal lives around the reasonable anticipation of such advancement.” The CHCLA’s views deserve serious consideration.

Meanwhile, Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, addressing a group of newly recruited Magistrates, at Sri Lanka Judges’ Institute, recently, stressed the need for judicial officers to do their best to preserve public confidence in the judiciary. A country could be destroyed by a bad judiciary in the same way it could be devastated by natural disasters, the Chief Justice said, stressing the need to safeguard the integrity, independence and dignity of the judiciary. His message was loud and clear.

However, some factors that erode public confidence in the judiciary are beyond the control of judges. The alleged government move to extend the retirement ages of the judges of the SC and the CA is a case in point. It is widely seen as an instance of political interference with the judiciary. One can only hope that the Sr Lankan legal fraternity and international lawyers’ associations will be able to knock some sense into the JVP-NPP government, and prevent this country from facing the same fate as Zimbabwe, where a serious constitutional crisis erupted in 2021, when its Constitution was arbitrarily amended to change the judges’ retirement ages. That issue raised broader concerns about the separation of powers and judicial independence. The constitutional amendment undermined public confidence in courts and amounted to political interference with the judiciary. Another crisis is the last thing Sri Lanka needs at this juncture.

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Sampath Bank honoured with three prestigious banking accolades at World Finance

Sampath Bank PLC has been recognised with three prestigious accolades at the World Finance Banking Awards 2026, securing the titles of Sri Lanka’s Best Retail Bank, Best Commercial Bank, and Best Corporate Governance – Sri Lanka 2026. Presented by UK-based World Finance magazine, the awards recognise institutions that demonstrate excellence in performance, innovation, leadership, customer value, long-term sustainability and Governance.

The recognition marks the 12th year that Sampath Bank has been named both Sri Lanka’s Best Retail Bank and Best Commercial Bank, reflecting a sustained ability to serve the evolving needs of individuals, entrepreneurs, corporates, and communities across the country. The addition of the Best Corporate Governance – Sri Lanka 2026 accolade further highlights the Bank’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of accountability, transparency, ethical leadership, and responsible stewardship.

Commenting on the achievement, Sanjaya Gunawardana, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Sampath Bank, said, “Receiving these three recognitions from World Finance is a significant milestone for Sampath Bank. The awards reflect the trust our customers place in us, the dedication of our employees, and the confidence of our stakeholders. While the retail and commercial banking honours recognise our ability to consistently deliver meaningful value and innovative financial solutions, the governance accolade affirms the strength of the principles that guide every decision we make. Together, these achievements reinforce our commitment to building a resilient, future-ready financial institution that contributes to the progress of Sri Lanka.”

World Finance evaluates financial institutions through a rigorous assessment process that considers financial performance, innovation, operational excellence, customer experience, sustainability, leadership, and governance.

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Lahiru Udara 188 carries the fight for Sri Lanka

A pair of wickets in the final half hour play brought the West Indies  back into the game, but prior to that it was Lahiru Udara  who had led Sri Lanka’s redemption arc as the opener fell 12 runs short of a maiden Test double-ton as day one of this second Test wound to a close at North Sound.

At 32 years of age, Udara has had to bide his time to make his way into the Test side, and it was just his luck that Sri Lanka’s Test schedule shrunk considerably just as he made his debut last June. Then in the Caribbean, he might not have got a look in, but an injury to Pathum Nissanka opened the door, and like Amir Jangoo in the first Test he took his chance with both hands.

Udara’s epic 188 off 248 all but ensured that the visitors ended the day in precisely the sort of commanding position they would have envisioned when they opted to bat – only partially sullied by those late strikes.

His innings came primarily across two major stands. The first was of the record-breaking variety, as Udara and Kamindu Mendis (84 off 120) struck 215 off just 255 deliveries. It was Sri Lanka’s highest-ever partnership in the Caribbean and very nearly their highest ever against West Indies in Tests. It also came after their side had stumbled to 25 for 2.

The second was less brisk but equally as important, as Dhananjaya de Silva joined Udara in the middle to stitch together a stand of 93 off 179. This one had come just as West Indies had begun to put together a much more disciplined display with the ball in the final session – efforts that had for large parts seemed destined to go without reward.

But the perseverance from the hosts belatedly paid off, first as a tiring Udara – he had received treatment earlier in the session on his lower back – top-edged to deep fine leg, before the other set batter, Dhananjaya, edged through to the slips after a gritty 33 off 90.

The latter wicket also brought about another cause for celebration for West Indies, as it meant that Jayden Seales reached 100 Test wickets, becoming the second-fastest West Indian bowler to do so in terms of deliveries bowled – Ian Bishop heads the list.

Seales’ and his team-mates’ jubilant celebrations were representative of catharsis, but also revealed the frustration that had been building up until that point, as Sri Lanka rode their luck but also pressed home the advantage for much of the game. They will however now feel they have restored some parity on a day that was largely dominated by the visitors.

Scores:

Sri Lanka 338 for 5 in 83 overs (Lahiru Udara 188, Kamindu  Mendis 84;  Shamar Joseph 2-60) vs West Indies

(Cricinfo)

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Tokyo Cement inspires future-ready construction at BUILD BEYOND 2026 Technology Summit

Tokyo Cement hosted ‘Build Beyond 2026 Summit’, a premier knowledge-sharing conference that brought together leading academics, civil and structural engineering experts and professionals of the Sri Lankan construction industry. The event featured keynote addresses by renowned construction technology specialists, Professor Shashank Bishnoi from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi-Abu Dhabi, and Senior Professor Priyan Mendis from the University of Melbourne.

The summit marked the second edition of the Build Beyond Engineering Technology Summit organized by the Tokyo Cement Group, designed to foster collaboration between academia and industry while highlighting global trends, innovations, and emerging technologies in cement and concrete. This year’s discussions focused on advancements in material science that are driving more sustainable and cost-efficient construction practices.

The event drew participation from state-sector authorities, research institutions, academia, engineering students, and public and private sector organizations, creating a dynamic platform for engagement across the construction industry. A key feature of the summit was a high-level panel discussion on “Building a Resilient and Sustainable Construction Future,” featuring several distinguished industry leaders.

The panel included Eng. Nissanka Wijerathne, the Secretary General/CEO of the Chamber of Construction Industry Sri Lanka (CCI), Founder and Deputy Chairman of Civil & Structural Engineering Consultants (Pvt.) Ltd.; Eng. Shiromal Fernando, the Chairman of CTBUH Sri Lanka and Vice President of the Green Building Council Sri Lanka, Adjunct Senior Lecturer at the General Sir John Kotelawala Defense University and visiting lecturer at the University of Moratuwa; Eng.

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ComBank and Carmart join forces to make Peugeot and Leapmotor vehicles more accessible

Strengthening its commitment to making vehicle ownership more accessible and affordable, Commercial Bank of Ceylon has entered into a strategic partnership with Carmart (Pvt) Ltd. to offer specially structured leasing facilities for Peugeot and Leapmotor vehicles.

Formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the collaboration brings together the Bank’s expertise in flexible financing and Carmart’s portfolio of internationally recognised vehicle brands, creating a value-rich proposition for customers seeking to purchase new vehicles.

Under this MoU, valid until 30th June 2027, Commercial Bank will offer attractive interest rates, concessions on documentation charges, and a complimentary credit card with the first year’s annual fee waived. These benefits are designed to reduce upfront costs and ease the financial commitment associated with vehicle ownership.

With leasing facilities available through Commercial Bank’s island-wide branch network, a cross section of customers will be able to part-finance their vehicle purchases while structuring repayments to align with their income patterns, enabling greater financial flexibility.

Further enhancing the value proposition, Carmart (Pvt) Ltd. will offer customers a range of added benefits, including a complimentary full tank of fuel, free vehicle registration, and other exclusive privileges, making the overall vehicle ownership experience more rewarding.

The Bank said the partnership reflects its continued focus on delivering practical and customer-centric leasing solutions in collaboration with reputed vendors. By combining competitive rates with cost-saving concessions, the Bank aims to make vehicle ownership more attainable for both existing and new customers.

This collaboration is particularly significant in the current market context, as it offers customers the opportunity to benefit from preferential leasing terms while managing repayments in a way that suits their financial circumstances.

As a pioneer in leasing solutions, Commercial Bank continues to innovate through strategic alliances that enhance value, broaden choice, and support customers in achieving their lifestyle aspirations.

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Firing squad volunteers wanted for death row execution chamber - full details

Idaho has become the only US state to make a firing squad its default method of execution, with officials now seeking volunteer police officers.

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Sri Lankans … big scene in Scotland

It’s not only our entertainers who are in the spotlight, overseas, but Sri Lankans, in general, as well.

The Sri Lankan Sports Club Scotland (SLSC) is a very good example. The club, with Hashan Hettiarachchi, as the President, continues to make a significant impact across Glasgow, and beyond, serving as a vibrant hub for sports, culture, and community engagement, within the Sri Lankan diaspora.

As a registered Scottish charity, SLSC was established with a clear purpose: to provide a formal foundation that supports and unites the Sri Lankan community, while fostering integration, wellbeing, and cultural pride.

Through its growing programmee of activities, the organisation creates opportunities for people of all ages, and backgrounds, to connect, participate, and thrive.

The club’s efforts have been recognised through funding support from the UK’s National Lottery, enabling SLSC to deliver a range of initiatives, focused on sports development, cultural enrichment, and community engagement.

This support has helped transform ambitious ideas into successful community-driven events that have attracted widespread participation and support.

Over the past year, SLSC has proudly delivered a highly successful Sri Lankan Independence Day celebration, bringing together families and community members to commemorate the nation’s heritage and achievements.

The club also organised a memorable community concert, featuring renowned Sri Lankan artiste Krishantha Erandake, providing an opportunity for people to celebrate their cultural roots, through music and entertainment.

Trophies given at the cricket festival

Sport remains at the heart of the organisation’s mission. SLSC has successfully hosted large-scale badminton and cricket tournaments, welcoming participants from across Scotland and beyond.

These events not only promote healthy lifestyles and sporting excellence but also strengthen friendships and community bonds through shared experiences.

Alongside its sporting and cultural programmes, SLSC is committed to preserving Sri Lankan heritage for future generations.

Through traditional dance classes and cultural education programmes, young people are given the opportunity to learn, appreciate, and celebrate the rich traditions of their ancestral homeland.

These initiatives ensure that cultural knowledge and practices continue to flourish within Scotland’s diverse multicultural landscape.

As the organisation continues to grow, SLSC remains dedicated to creating inclusive opportunities that bring communities together, celebrate diversity, and inspire the next generation. With strong community support, dedicated volunteers, and ongoing partnerships, the future looks bright for one of Scotland’s most active and impactful Sri Lankan community organisations.

For SLSC, success is measured not only by the events it delivers, but by the lasting connections it creates and the positive difference it makes within the community every day.

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