The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has urged the President and key officials to ensure the upcoming appointments of civil society representatives to the Constitutional Council are made through a transparent and consultative process.
In a letter addressed to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, Speaker of Parliament Jagath Wickramaratne, and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, the BASL highlighted that the terms of the current civil society members, Dr. Pratap Ramanujam, Dr. (Mrs.) Dilkushi Anula Wijesundere, and Prof. (Mrs.) Dinesha Samararatne, will expire in January 2026.
The Constitutional Council, re-established under the 21st Amendment to the Constitution, plays a key role in approving appointments to high offices and ensuring the independence of key commissions, the letter said.
The BASL stressed the need for appointees to be individuals of “exemplary integrity,” with broad societal acceptance and the capacity to make meaningful contributions to the Council’s work.
The association also recommended that civil society and professional bodies such as the BASL be consulted in the appointment process, emphasizing the importance of stakeholder involvement in preserving the independence of Sri Lanka’s democratic institutions. (Newswire)