BASL asks to postpone judges’ retirement age briefing

A scheduled briefing for Members of Parliament regarding the proposed extension of the retirement age of judges should be postponed until bipartisan participation is assured. The request came in a letter sent to the Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa by the President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka Rajeev Amarasuriya on Wednesday (20).

The decision followed proceedings in Parliament where the government demonstrated no consensus or interest in permitting its parliamentarians to attend the session.

Although the Opposition already voiced strong objections to the proposed Constitutional Amendment, the legal body intended the briefing to help government parliamentarians objectively consider their stance.

Expressing gratitude to the Leader of the Opposition for proposing the session as a progressive step in the constitutional debate, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka requested that the event be delayed until cross-party attendance can be guaranteed.