Sri Lanka Bar Association president speaks after meeting president

The President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, attorney-at-law Rajeev Amarasuriya, expressed hope that the government might reconsider its stance on proposed constitutional amendments. He stated this after a meeting with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat.

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We believe that with reconsideration of the views and decisions regarding the new constitutional amendment, we can arrive at the correct place.

Amarasuriya noted that this was the first time he had met with the President to discuss the matter. During the meeting, the Bar Association clearly explained the reasons behind its opposition to the constitutional amendments, which include objections from lawyers and judges. He conveyed that the association stressed the importance of conducting extensive expert discussions before implementing such significant changes.

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We discussed the Bar Association's position with the President. This was the first time we met the President to discuss this matter.

The delegation that met with the President included about twenty individuals, comprising attorneys, presidents' counsel, and professors. President Dissanayake also shared his perspective on the proposed amendments. Amarasuriya emphasized that the Bar Association's stance is not a fight against anyone but rather a call for a more thorough and inclusive process.

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We explained to him the reasons why lawyers and judges are opposed to this constitutional amendment.

He believes that with further discussion and reconsideration, a more appropriate resolution can be reached regarding the proposed amendments. The association's engagement aims to ensure that any constitutional changes are well-considered and have broad support from legal and academic experts.

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We mentioned there that such a change should be made after broad expert discussions.