The Sri Lanka Bar Association (BASL) today expressed its regret regarding the Supreme Court’s process to determine President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s eligibility to contest for a third term.

The Supreme Court’s opinion on President Rajapaksa’s eligibility to contest for a third term was sent to the Temple Trees this afternoon.

BASL Secretary Ajith Pathirana told media that up to now it has not received any response from the Supreme Court regarding the two letters sent by the BASL urging the matter be taken up before open court and sufficient time be allocated to present oral presentation.

While writing a letter to the Supreme Court insisting the necessity of oral hearing into the opinion sought by President regarding the constitutionality to contest for a third term under the 18th amendment to the Constitution, Sri Lanka Bar Association President Upul Jayasuriya urged Chief Justice Mohan Peiris not to make an exception to the past tradition of oral hearing.

Jayasuriya stated that the BASL too had identified its national importance and had obtained an opinion from an internationally acclaimed constitutional expert of Sri Lankan origin Prof. Suri Ratnapala, which has been overwhelmingly concurred by the Executive Committee of the BASL and by a group of eminent persons including National Preeminent Academics in Law at a public forum.