Upul Jayasuriya PC, former President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), has voiced concerns over the potential subordination of the Constitutional Council to the executive branch. 

Speaking at a gathering organized by the Samagi Lawyers Federation, Jayasuriya emphasized the importance of maintaining the Constitutional Council's autonomy.

Jayasuriya's remarks come in response to recent statements by the President suggesting the inclusion of the Constitutional Council within the executive's sphere of influence. He reiterated that the purpose of the Constitutional Council is to regulate certain executive powers, asserting that it should not be treated as a mere instrument of the executive.

The occasion also saw the launch of the "Legal Framework for System Change," comprising 116 proposals aimed at addressing issues such as nepotism and enhancing judicial integrity. Notable among these proposals is a restriction on multiple family members participating in politics simultaneously, with a suggestion for a waiting period between successive family members' involvement in politics.

Key proposals within the framework focus on enhancing transparency in appointments and removals within the judiciary, expediting criminal prosecutions, and ensuring the independence of legal entities such as the Attorney General’s Department, Public Prosecutor, and Public Defender.
PC Jayasuriya, also the head of the Samagi Lawyers Federation, presented the legal framework to Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa during the event, which saw the participation of over 1,000 lawyers and senior counsels.