The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has strongly rejected allegations made in Parliament on Thursday (24) by ruling National People’s Power (NPP) MP Asitha Niroshana Egoda Withanage against its President, Rajeev Amarasuriya, describing the claims as “utterly false, baseless, and made with malicious intent.”
Speaking in the House, the MP claimed that Amarasuriya had held discussions with Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, who had allegedly promised him the Western Province Chief Ministerial candidacy at the forthcoming Provincial Council election in exchange for his support.
In a statement, the BASL expressed deep dismay over what it called the abuse of parliamentary privilege to make unfounded and defamatory remarks intended to mislead the public and undermine confidence in the legal profession. It said such “cheap political attacks” would not succeed and affirmed that the country’s legal fraternity remained united in defending the independence and integrity of the Association, insisting it “does not, and will not, play politics.”
The BASL challenged the MP to repeat the allegations outside Parliament, without the protection of parliamentary privilege, stating that appropriate legal consequences could then follow. The statement was signed by Deputy President, President’s Counsel Rienzie Arsecularatne, and Secretary Nalin De Silva.
The Association also addressed the proposal to raise the retirement age of Supreme Court and Court of Appeal judges, reiterating that constitutional amendments affecting the superior courts should not be introduced in an ad hoc manner or in response to temporary circumstances. Such changes, it said, should be undertaken only where there is demonstrable institutional necessity, transparent public justification, and broad stakeholder consultation, adding that public confidence in constitutional governance depends on both the substance of an amendment and the process by which it is introduced.
