The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has called for a proposed briefing for Members of Parliament on the extension of the retirement age of judges to be postponed until bipartisan participation can be assured.

In a letter dated August 19 to the Leader of the Opposition, Sajith Premadasa, BASL President Rajeev Amarasuriya said the proposed briefing was an important and timely initiative given the national significance of the proposed constitutional amendment.

The Bar Association said it had hoped the issue would attract bipartisan consensus, providing Parliamentarians with an opportunity to better understand and objectively consider the concerns raised by the legal profession regarding the proposed amendment.

However, referring to proceedings in Parliament on August 19, the BASL said the government's position appeared to indicate that there was currently no consensus on the matter and that there was no apparent interest in providing government MPs with an opportunity to participate in the briefing.

The Opposition has already expressed strong opposition to the proposed constitutional amendment.

According to the BASL, the briefing would have been particularly useful for government MPs, enabling them to objectively consider the proposed changes and the concerns raised by the Bar.

The Bar Association therefore requested the Opposition Leader to take steps to postpone the briefing until the participation of both government and opposition Parliamentarians could be assured.

The BASL also thanked Premadasa for proposing and following up on the briefing, describing the initiative as a progressive step in the ongoing constitutional debate.

According to Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, the meeting to brief the MPs is scheduled to be held today at the Parliament Complex.