Commonwealth lobby groups express concern over Lankan political crisis

The Commonwealth Lawyers Association, Commonwealth Legal Education Association and Commonwealth Parliamentary Association have expressed their deep concern at the implications of the continuing political crisis for the rule of law in Sri Lanka.

The latest outcry follows the statement issued by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association on 8 November 2018 expressing its concern at the recent political developments in Sri Lanka.

The three groups have called upon all parties to the present conflict to observe scrupulously and in good faith the provisions of the Constitution relating to the respective roles of the Executive, Parliament and the Judiciary, together with:

nThe provisions of the Commonwealth Charter and the Commonwealth (Latimer House) Principles on the Three Branches of Government to which Sri Lanka, as a member of the Commonwealth and recent holder of the Chair-in Office, is committed;

nThe references in the Charter to the responsibility of governments, political parties and civil society for upholding and promoting democratic culture and practices and to the recognition of the importance of maintaining the integrity of the roles of the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary and;

nThe requirement in The Latimer House Principles, in the light of recent disruption in the conduct of parliamentary business, that “Parliamentarians must be able to carry out their legislative and constitutional functions in accordance with the Constitution, free from unlawful interference”.

The Commonwealth Lawyers Association is an international non-profit organisation which exists to promote and maintain the rule of law throughout the Commonwealth by ensuring that an independent and efficient legal profession, with the highest standards of ethics and integrity, serves the people of the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth Legal Education Association is an international non-profit organisation which fosters and promotes high standards of legal education in the Commonwealth. Founded in 1971, it is a Commonwealth-wide body with regional chapters and committees in South Asia, Southern Africa, West Africa, the Caribbean and the UK. The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), now in its 107th year, exists to develop, promote and support Parliamentarians and their staff to identify benchmarks of good governance and to implement the enduring values of the Commonwealth. 

The CPA is an international community of around 180 Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures working together to deepen the Commonwealth’s commitment to the highest standards of democratic governance.