The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has expressed concern over various allegations levelled against the Chief Justice and the judiciary both in Parliament and on social media, adding that the Association itself has also been subjected to baseless attacks.
In a special statement, the BASL said it had challenged the proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution before the Supreme Court on a matter of principle, as the Bill posed a serious threat to judicial independence and the rights of the people.
The Association claimed it observes that the incumbent Chief Justice would be the first judge to benefit if the Bill became law. It added that a public perception had emerged that the amendment was being rushed through to extend the Chief Justice’s tenure, which is due to end on 1 December 2026.
The BASL acknowledged that the judiciary, as an institution exercising the sovereign power of the people, must be subject to lawful scrutiny and accountability. Any credible allegations against a judge should be fairly investigated through the constitutional and parliamentary procedures established for that purpose, it said.
However, the Association warned that personal attacks based on unverified allegations could undermine public confidence in the justice system.
Judicial independence does not exist to shield any individual from lawful scrutiny, but serves as a safeguard for the people by protecting the rule of law and citizens’ rights, the BASL said.
