Oct 05, Colombo: C.R. de Silva, the Attorney General of Sri Lanka, has submitted to President Mahinda Rajapaksa his letter of retirement, to start on October 8, media sources report.

The Attorney General's service was extended by the President beyond his retirement age under the powers of the President conferred by extraordinary gazette No. 1562/1.

However, the relevant gazette has been challenged in the Supreme Court by a lawyer attached to the Center for Policy Alternatives on the basis that the powers vested in the President are prone to politicize the public service. The fundamental rights petition has been granted leave to proceed and is due to be taken up for consideration on October 8.