President Ranil Wickremesinghe is considering appointing Attorney General (AG) Sanjay Rajaratnam, PC as the next Chief Justice (CJ).

The President has reportedly sent a request to the Constitutional Council (CC) to approve the extension of Rajaratnam’s tenure as the AG by six months till the end of this year. Rajaratnam is to complete his term of office on 27 June.

Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, PC is reportedly due to retire this December and the President, it is learnt, is looking at appointing Rajaratnam as Jayasuriya’s successor.

The Speaker of Parliament has reportedly received the President’s request for a service extension for the AG and the CC is expected to take up the matter during its meeting in June since it was not scheduled for discussion at the last meeting held on 23 May.