A disagreement has emerged in Parliament regarding a proposed meeting between lawmakers and the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, with the Opposition Leader requesting all 225 MPs be notified while the government rejected the approach as procedurally improper.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa requested that Parliament's Speaker inform all 225 members of an upcoming delegation visit from the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, scheduled for between noon and 1:30 p.m. Premadasa stated that the Bar Association had initiated the meeting request and called for all MPs to be invited regardless of party affiliation.
Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake rejected the proposal, arguing that no external organization possesses authority to summon Members of Parliament and that such matters must follow established parliamentary procedures. He emphasized that only the Speaker, parliamentary administration, and the Business Committee—with the Leader of the House's consent—can formally notify all MPs of gatherings.
Rathnayake referenced a previous similar request made weeks earlier by Premadasa, which the Bar Association itself publicly rejected in an August 4 statement. At that time, the association denied being a political tool and questioned how the Opposition Leader could schedule meetings on its behalf without consultation. According to Rathnayake, the Business Committee acknowledged that the earlier approach did not align with proper procedures.
MP Mano Ganesan intervened to clarify that Premadasa had merely requested notification rather than claiming authority to convene Parliament. However, Rathnayake countered that permitting one professional body such access would create pressure to grant similar opportunities to numerous other organizations, making the practice impractical. He suggested the Opposition Leader could inform only their own MPs if desired.
