COLOMBO, Sept. 23 -- The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has appealed to political parties to permit their Members of Parliament to exercise independent judgment and vote according to their conscience during the parliamentary debate on the proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution.

The call follows the Supreme Court's determination that the Bill, in its present form, does not require approval by the People at a referendum.

In a statement issued on Wednesday (23), the BASL stressed that the Supreme Court's role under Articles 120, 121 and 123 of the Constitution is to determine the constitutional requirements for enacting the Bill, including whether its provisions require approval at a referendum under Article 83.

It said the Cour...