We will not come to parliament even if Sajith says so - Lawyers' Association informs

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) announces that it will not participate in the program scheduled to be held to educate Members of Parliament on the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, as requested by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Sajith Premadasa. The President of the Association, Attorney-at-Law Rajeev Amarasuriya, points out that representatives of their association will not attend the Parliament premises today.

The Leader of the Opposition had organized for a delegation from the Bar Association of Sri Lanka to be invited before all 225 Members of Parliament to present their legal and constitutional opinion on the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution. Although the Leader of the Opposition informed Parliament about this yesterday, it is reported that there was no positive response from the government side.

In a special letter addressed to the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Sajith Premadasa, the Bar Association requests that the relevant awareness program be postponed until a suitable opportunity arises to ensure the participation of Members of Parliament from both the government and opposition sides.

The letter further states that looking at today's proceedings in Parliament and the stance declared by the government, it appears there is no bipartisan agreement on this matter. Furthermore, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka's letter to the Leader of the Opposition also points out that it is observed that the government has no interest in providing such an opportunity to their Members of Parliament.