In light of several politically sensitive incidents that have taken place involving the judiciary the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) stated that individual incidents should not be used to attack the entire judiciary while urging its members to refrain from making comments with regard to ongoing cases.
Released audio clips that are purported to have taken place between United National Party (UNP) Parliamentarian and several judges have resulted in deteriorating public confidence in the judiciary.
In this back ground the BASL statement issued by the President of the Association President’s Counsel Kalinga Indatissa states that the BASL is mindful of the need to protect the Rule of Law and also the role that the BASL is required to play regarding Independence of the Judiciary. Recently and in the past and at all material times the BASL has played its role regarding the independence of the Judiciary and Rule of Law.
“We are also mindful of the fact that individual incidents cannot be permitted to be used to attack the entire judiciary.
The judiciary is an extremely important institution for protection of individual liberties and the Rule of Law,” the statement reads.
It further states that the association has urged the chief justice and the Judicial Service Commission to expedite the process and take swift action on the relevant individuals.
“We are confident that the Chief Justice and the JSC will take appropriate steps regarding the individual judicial officers in accordance with the process identified by law and the Constitutional provisions,” the letter states.
Highlighting the need for immediate attention in this regard as it is extremely important so that the judicial officers who are truly independent and who have exercised their duty fearlessly and without any kind of influence are protected, the statement further reads that the association has stressed the importance of this need to take immediate decisions. Furthermore the statements urged the members of the legal profession be cautious in making public statements. “The BASL wishes to request the members of the profession to refrain from making any statements relating to any pending or concluded cases or individual Judges. If any member of the profession has any grievance relating to the judicial independence of a judicial officer we request them to send their grievances addressed to us or the JSC,” it said.