BASL elections postponed

By T.Farook Thajudeen

The election of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka initially scheduled for today to elect a new President for the year 2017/2018 was postponed indefinitely due to a dispute with the Sri Lanka Judicial Services Association (SLJSA) over the controversial appointment of High Court Judge Ramanathan Kannan.

The dispute arose after a decision taken by the Judicial Service Association (SLJSA) to refrain from acting as the Presiding Officers. 

BASL Secretary Amal A. Randeniya said even though in earlier years the JSA took part as Presiding Officers in the BASL Elections on this occasion it had refrained from performing as Presiding Officers because of the difference of opinion the two associations had over President Maithripala Sirisena appointing an attorney-at-law as a High Court Judge. He said steps would be taken to hold the election as early as possible.