BASL wants Minister arrested

(BY LAKMAL SOORIYAGODA)

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) at a meeting with the Attorney General had requested that necessary action be taken to arrest the minister and other suspects who were involved in a mob attack on the Mannar Courts complex. BASL President Wijedasa Rajapakse PC said he met the AG at his office and requested him to take necessary action to arrest those involved in the incident including a government minister. Mr. Rajapakse said all lawyers in the country refrained from carrying out their duties in Courts yesterday in protest over the mob attack on the Mannar Courts complex. Mr. Rajapakse said the BASL had taken a decision to file contempt of court charges in the Court of Appeal against those involved in the attack. Work at all Courts in the country came to standstill after the BASL and Judges Associations refrained from carrying out their normal duties in protest over the threats on Mannar Magistrate by a minister and the attack on the Mannar Court complex.

Most of the cases were postponed for July 23. Meanwhile, the Lawyers Association attached to the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court hailed the Mannar Magistrate A. Judson for refusing to bow down to political interference. The Association’s Chairman R.A.P. Ranawaka said lawyers of the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court praised the Magistrate for acting fearlessly amid political intervention. He said the association had also decided to request the other judges to follow the example set by the Mannar Magistrate.

Mr. Ranawaka said the lawyers called for the arrest of all the suspects who were involved in the incident and warned that lawyers would resort to further action, if the authorities failed to act promptly to arrest the miscreants and punish them if found guilty.

Association Secretary Pradeep Gamage requested the public to condemn the actions of unruly politicians who instigate people to resort to violence. He said the time had come to safeguard the independency of the judiciary which was the last refuge of the people.

Source: Daily Mirror - Sri Lanka