House divided over BASL briefing for MPs
by Saman Indrajith A procedural dispute erupted in Parliament yesterday over a proposed meeting between representatives of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) and Members of Parliament, with Leader of the House Bimal Ratnayake rejecting a request by Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa to facilitate the participation of all 225 MPs. Premadasa told […]
In a debate at Parliament yesterday, a dispute arose over BASL representatives potentially meeting with Members of Parliament (MPs). Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa requested all 225 MPs be informed about a BASL briefing on unfilled Supreme Court and Court of Appeal vacancies. However, House Leader Bimal Ratnayake objected, arguing that the meeting could not occur outside established parliamentary procedures.
Ratnayake contended that no individual or external organization could summon all MPs, and that the matter required Business Committee approval. Premadasa maintained he merely requested the Speaker inform MPs, not to convene Parliament. The matter involved not whether MPs could meet BASL, but the proper procedure for an external body to formally meet all MPs.
Written by urgent.news from The Island Sri Lanka's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
