The President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), Attorney-at-Law Rajeev Amarasuriya, announced that an emergency meeting of all members of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka will be convened tomorrow (15) at 3.00 p.m.
He made this statement during a special media briefing held this morning (14) regarding the fatal shooting of a lawyer and his wife in a supermarket parking lot near the Akuregoda Army Headquarters in Battaramulla.
Addressing the media, the BASL President stated that such a meeting, with the participation of all members of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, is being convened for the first time since 2012.
Expressing his views, he emphasized that the incident has deeply affected the entire legal community.
Further elaborating, the President of the Bar Association stated:
“The criminals should be arrested and the law should be enforced. That young man was killed in the act. We express our condolences to the family of that lawyer. This is something we never expected — something we never thought would happen. We are also looking into what has taken place. I believe the government and the police have a significant responsibility in this matter. First and foremost, when an incident like this occurs, those responsible must be arrested and the law must be enforced. This should send a message to society. People abroad are also observing how we respond.
“Various claims are being circulated on social media regarding this incident. However, the court will handle all investigations related to the matter. Different narratives can be presented on social media, but an intellectually fair investigation will be conducted through the judicial process. Legal support must be provided, even to criminals in the country. Nowhere is it stated that criminals should not be represented. Regardless of the allegations against suspects, legal assistance must be provided. That assistance should be extended to anyone.
“There is a serious concern regarding the security of the country. This incident — the murder of the lawyer and his wife — highlights that issue. In the past, there have been similar incidents, including the killing of journalist Lasantha.
“The government bears responsibility for such acts. The public elects a government primarily to ensure security. Today, people feel unsafe even walking on the streets. We are ordinary citizens; we have not been provided with security guards. More than anything else, the people expect security from the government.”
