{
  "id": 9475379,
  "title": "BASL calls for conscience vote on 22nd Amendment",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/basl-calls-for-conscience-vote-on-22nd-amendment",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-24T00:05:53.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Island Sri Lanka",
    "slug": "the-island-sri-lanka",
    "url": "http://island.lk/basl-calls-for-conscience-vote-on-22nd-amendment/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has urged all political parties in Parliament to enable their members to vote on the proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution based on their personal beliefs and conscience. BASL's President, Rajeev Amarasuriya, and General Secretary, Nalin de Silva, emphasized that the Supreme Court's determination on the bill should not be seen as a statement on the amendment's merits or whether it should be enacted. The court's role, as determined by Articles 120, 121, and 123 of the Constitution, is to assess the constitutional requirements for the bill's passage, including whether it needs approval through a referendum under Article 83.\n\nThe determination does not dictate whether the amendment is a good or bad policy, desirable or undesirable, wise or unwise, or whether Parliament should pass it. This standpoint is consistent with Sri Lanka's past constitutional amendments, some of which adversely affected democracy, constitutionalism, the judiciary, and the rule of law. BASL's call to all political parties is to allow their MPs to deliberate and vote on the amendment according to their own conscience. They must consider potential consequences for the nation, the lack of transparency in introducing the 22nd Amendment, and the concerns raised by various sectors of society, including religious leaders, legal associations, and professional bodies. Ultimately, the decision on whether to enact the amendment rests with the Parliament and individual Members of Parliament, who must take a principled stance based on their conscience, constitutional duties, and the will of the Sri Lankan people.",
  "summary": "The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) yesterday called on all political parties, represented in Parliament, to allow their members to vote on the proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution according to their conscience, stressing that the responsibility for deciding whether the Bill should be enacted now rests with Parliament. In a statement issued after […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}