The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) says it is yet to receive the complete video recordings of its meeting with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake over the proposed constitutional amendment to extend the retirement age of superior court judges.
The BASL said the meeting included several stages, beginning with BASL President Rajeev Amarasuriya outlining the association’s concerns over the proposed amendment and its potential impact on judicial independence.
According to the BASL, Amarasuriya stressed that the proposed extension of judges’ retirement ages should not be rushed without adequate consultation with relevant stakeholders.
BASL Deputy President Rienzi Arsakularatne, PC, subsequently made further submissions, while Emeritus Professor Savitri Goonesekere explained concerns over how the proposed amendment could affect judicial independence. Several past presidents of the BASL also contributed to the discussion.
The President later explained the government’s position, following which Amarasuriya made further observations and proposed a way forward, the BASL said.
However, the association said it has so far received only the recording of Amarasuriya’s initial submission, adding that a significant portion of that recording is unclear or garbled.
In a letter dated August 14 to the Presidential Secretariat, the BASL requested the entire unedited video recording of the meeting, including all interventions, observations, responses and final remarks, with the best available audio and video quality.
Responding to the request, the President’s Media Division said the unedited recording of the BASL President’s official remarks had been provided on August 12.
It added that recordings of the remaining remarks and interventions by participants would be made available “in due course, at the earliest practicable opportunity,” subject to the required official processes.
The BASL said the remaining recordings have still not been received despite several requests.
The dispute over the recordings comes amid continuing debate over the government’s proposed constitutional amendment to increase the retirement age of Supreme Court and Court of Appeal judges. (Newswire)
