The Bar Association of Sri Lanka today announced that the Presidential Task Force for ‘One Country’, ‘One Law’ is improper and outside the accepted framework for lawmaking.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had appointed a Presidential Task Force mandated to implement the One Country, One Law concept chaired by Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera.  

In a letter to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the BASL is of the view that no useful purpose would be served by the creation of this Task Force since it would seize the functions of many institutions established under the Constitution and the law, including Parliament and the Ministry of Justice.

 The BASL noted that the constitution itself provides a framework for the legislative process which is supplemented by other laws and by the Standing Orders of Parliament.

“There already exist within the framework of the Constitution, the law and Standing Orders and adequate mechanisms for this purpose. The Sectoral Oversight Committees of Parliament as well as Standing Committees and Select Committees which can be constituted as per the Standing Orders of Parliament, the Law Commission which is an institution established by law are among these mechanisms. In addition, during the last year the Ministry of Justice has appointed several committees to propose reforms to various laws,” the BASL added.

The BASL further observed that the Task Force itself is not a representative body, given that it has no female representation or representation from several ethnic groups and religious groups in the country. The BASL also noted that serious doubts also exist as to the qualifications, expertise, and suitability of the Chairperson of the Task Force and of many of its members to engage in the functions described in the Gazette.

This letter had been issued under the signatures of BASL President Saliya Pieris and its Secretary Rajeev Amarasuriya. (Lakmal Sooriyagoda)