The Bar Association of Sri Lanka has asked for a planned briefing to Members of Parliament on extending judges' retirement age to be delayed until both government and opposition lawmakers can participate.

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has called for the postponement of a proposed parliamentary briefing concerning the extension of judges' retirement age, citing the absence of cross-party support. In a letter dated August 19 addressed to Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, BASL President Rajeev Amarasuriya explained that the association had envisioned the briefing as an opportunity for lawmakers from both sides to examine the legal profession's concerns regarding the proposed constitutional amendment.

The decision to seek postponement followed parliamentary proceedings on August 18, during which the government expressed its position on the matter. According to the BASL, these developments indicated a lack of consensus and suggested the government held no interest in facilitating participation by its MPs in the briefing. Government Members of Parliament had previously raised concerns about the proposed briefing arrangement.

The BASL acknowledged that the Opposition has already publicly opposed the constitutional amendment. The association argued that the briefing would have been particularly valuable for government MPs, allowing them to objectively evaluate the proposed changes and the Bar's stated concerns. The BASL emphasized that bipartisan participation was essential for the initiative to achieve its intended purpose of advancing constitutional debate.

The Bar Association expressed gratitude to Opposition Leader Premadasa for proposing and pursuing the briefing, describing it as a constructive contribution to the ongoing constitutional discussion. However, no timeline has been provided for when the briefing might be rescheduled.