Lawyers condemn BASL inaction

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has not so far taken active action against the assault on Judicial Service Commission (JSC) secretary Manjula Tillekartne, a senior lawyer alleged yesterday.

Senior Counsel Upul Jayasuriya expressing views regarding the matter said that though the BASL had played an active role in connection with the Mannar incident, he charged that it was regrettable to note the BASL was not doing so in respect of the assault on JSC secretary Manjula Tillekaratne. He further said that as lawyers they would like to express their dissatisfaction to the BASL for not fulfilling its role in connection with the incident.   

Jayasuriya made this remarks at the Supreme Court premises where four lawyers associations held a press conference.

“No persons have been arrested so far even five days lapsed in connection with the assault on JSC secretary. It is a known fact in this country whenever the assailants have not been taken into custody or whenever the crime is not solved, it is a situation where the Government has a hand in it. Politicians have a hand in it. The same thing was happened to the assassination of Lasantha Wickrematunge. No assailants have been arrested, but the Government promised to that the assailants to be taken into custody within few days.  It never happened,” Jaysuriya said.

Former Executive Director of Transparency International Attorney-at-Law J.C. Weliamuna said that some Government Ministers were trying to link the incident with international conspiracies.

“Without conducting a proper investigation, the Government is trying to link this incident with international conspiracies. It is clear that the Government may have been involved in these incidents,” Weliamuna alleged.

Media Spokesman of the Free March Association Counsel Namal Rajapaksha said that time has come to unite all the attorneys in safeguarding the independence of the judiciary.

The representatives of the Young Lawyers Association, People’s Lawyers Association, National Lawyers Association and Lawyers for Democracy also expressed views.