Does this mean that the principal body representing lawyers in this country will bend before wealth, power, and white-collar crime?
Furthermore, Gunaratne Wanninayake, who appeared on behalf of the Bar Association, was reportedly asking the court to grant special privileges to the Black Robe family.
To the best of my knowledge, the Bar Association has not uttered a single word in defence of lawyer Achala Seneviratne, who continues to represent victims of alleged Navy extortion networks despite threats to her life. What has the Bar Association (BASL) done to protect Lawyer Dr Ravindra Dabare, who is handling nationally significant cases such as the Express Pearl case? If the Bar Association operates in this manner, is it defending a person accused of being a major racketeer simply because the father of the accused is a President’s Counsel?
Not only that, nearly a hundred members of the legal fraternity reportedly appeared in support of him.
Shame on you, Rajeeva Amarasuriya, the president of the BASL.
I also wonder why the same Bar Association did not intervene on behalf of that lawyer who was imprisoned in England for money laundering.
Should lawyers and President’s Counsel receive special treatment regardless of the nature of the crime or misconduct involved? Are they above the law?
We have not forgotten how the Bar Association behaved when citizens took to the streets in protest against the Attorney General, alleging that the rule of law was being undermined.
I also recall members of the legal fraternity rallying in a similar manner in support of the monk Pallegama Hemarathana.
If the Bar Association chooses to stand by individuals facing numerous criminal allegations—I am not suggesting that anyone should be denied legal representation—it is hardly surprising that the public views with suspicion the Association’s stance on issues such as extending the retirement age of judges.
— Saroj Pathirana
26 June 2026
(Translated from Sinhala FB post)
Clarification from the Bar Association of Sri Lanka:Some media reports have emerged that the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) made representations during the court proceedings held at the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court yesterday evening regarding a lawyer who was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption.
The Bar Association emphasizes that the role of the Bar Association in such matters relating to its members is limited to monitoring the proceedings of a lawyer and reporting to the Association for further action.
The Executive Committee of the Bar Association does not authorize any lawyer to present matters on its behalf during these proceedings, and the Bar Association states that no decision has been taken to make any representation on behalf of that lawyer.
Signed by
Rajeev Amarasuriya
President
Nalin De Silva
Secretary
Bar Association of Sri Lanka