Attorney-at-law Buddhika Mallawarachchi and his wife were shot dead inside their vehicle at a supermarket car park in Akuregoda, Thalangama on Friday the 14th.
Press statement:
BAR ASSOCIATION OF SRI LANKA
15th February 2026
BRIEFING OF THE DECISIONS TAKEN AT THE SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE BAR ASSOCIATION OF SRI LANKA ON 15TH FEBRUARY 2026
The General Membership of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (“BASL”) gathered in large numbers today, 15th February 2026, at a Special General Meeting of the membership, convened in view of the brutal killing of Mr. Buddhika Mallawa Arachchi, Attorney-at-Law and his wife in broad daylight in a high security area.
Taking into consideration the grave concerns expressed by the membership about the existential threat faced by Attorneys-at-Law, as highlighted by this inhuman assassination of Mr. Mallawa Arachchi, AAL and the similar dangers faced by the Judiciary, as shown by the shocking murder of later Hon. Sarath Ambepitiya, High Court Judge in November 2004, and with a view to demonstrating the collective desire of the membership to meaningfully express its strong resolve to assist in the process of remedying this grave situation, the membership unanimously decided as follows:
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To compel the Government to take urgent and robust measures to bring an end to the current culture of brutal killings and to ensure public security;
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All Attorneys-at-Law to refrain from appearing in all Courts throughout the country on Monday, 16th February 2026;
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To call upon the Law Enforcement Authorities to forthwith apprehend the perpetrators of these brutal killings and to expeditiously take steps according to law;
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To express the utmost displeasure of the BASL, with regard to the public circulation and attempts of narrative creation through unverified information attributed as having been communicated by the Police.
Rajeev Amarasuriya
President
Bar Association of Sri Lanka
Chathura A. Galhena
Secretary
Bar Association of Sri Lanka