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Ex-BASL secretary Upul Jayasuriya to contest for BASL presidency
View(s):Former Bar Association Secretary Upul Jayasuriya has announced his candidature for the presidency of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) which falls vacant at the end of the first term of incumbent Wijeyadasa Rajapaksha, MP.
Traditionally, the BASL president is elected for a two-year term, and rarely contested at the end of the first year. This year, however, Rajapaksha is, reportedly, stepping down voluntarily. He has neither made a formal announcement to this effect, nor given any reason for the terminating his presidency.
BASL secretary, Sanjaya Gamage would be seeking re-election for a second term. Nominations for office bearers will need to be handed over to the Returning Officer, Solicitor General Yuwanjan Wijetilake P.C. at the Attorney General’s Department on Thursday, January 10, between 8.30 am and 12 noon.
Meanwhile, senior Attorney-at-Law Upul Jayasuriya said he has decided to contest for the presidency for 2013.
Issuing a media release, Mr. Jayasuriya stated, “I have been informed that the present President of the BASL, Wijeyadasa Rajapaksha P.C. has decided not to offer himself for the BASL Presidency for the current year, though it is customary for the incumbent president to continue for two years.
In view of this, I have been encouraged by many senior and junior members of the Bar, from Colombo and outstations, to offer myself to the office of President of the BASL. In response to the said requests, I have decided to offer myself, seeking election for the post of President of the BASL, for 2013-2014.”
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