BASL

(28  October 2017/LfD)It was reported that the Bar Council of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, at a special meeting, held on 23rd October 2017 resolved to express its grave concern about the proposed amendments to Articles 1 and 2 of the present Constitution. The Statement of the Bar Council also alleges that proposed amendments […]

By Basil Fernando. A lawyer practicing in Negombo was abducted on the night of 12 July 2017 and taken to a deserted field. There six persons, two of whom were wearing camouflaged uniforms, beat him thoroughly on his back and his head, threatening him that, “you should not be messing with us,” and “you should […]

(The proposed amendment restricts detainees rights) In a letter to the President Maithiripala Sirisena the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has opposed the proposed amend to the Criminal Procedure Code. The BASL say that “the amendment contravenes Sri Lanka’s obligations in terms of international human rights law especially the provisions of the International Covenant […]

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) yesterday took a non-committal stand on the issue of foreign judges sitting on war crimes tribunals expected to be set up soon. It stated that these must inspire the confidence of “stakeholders” and be within the country’s Constitution, a position the Government has also taken. A statement issued […]

The Standing Committee on Rule of Law of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) called on the National Police Commission (NPC) to take immediate action to interdict police officers who assaulted students recently or to at least place them on compulsory leave pending investigations. Chairman of the Standing Committee on Rule of Law of […]

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has once again demanded the resignation of Chief Justice Mohan Peiris over his alleged involvement in a coup attempt after the Presidential election. BASL said that from or about 10th January 2015 onwards, there have been reports in the media that, Chief Justice Mohan Pieris was present at […]

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has called on Chief Justice Mohan Peiris to issue an immediate denial of the recent reports circulating in the media regarding his presence at Temple Trees, should they be untrue. The BASL at an emergency meeting of the Executive Committee which took place last evening revealed that it […]

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) had urged the newly elected President Maithripala Sirisena to arrange necessary measures to reinstate the 43rd Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake, who was impeached by Parliament in January 2013. BASL Secretary Ajith Pathirana told that the BASL made this request at a meeting with President Maithripala Sirisena and […]

Treasurer of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, Upul Deshapriya, Attorney-at-Law and a few other officers bearers of the BASL, yesterday filed a Writ Application in the Court of Appeals seeking to obtain a mandatory order on the Mayors of Kotte and Dehiwela-Mt. Lavinia Municipal Councils, to prevent the display of hoardings and posters which […]

President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, Attorney at Law, Upul Jayasuriya has questioned that whether the Sc opinion on  on ‘whether President Mahinda Rajapaksa has any legal barrier to contest for a third term’ was leaked to the state media well before the opinion was handed over to the President on Monday November […]

[Upul Jayasuriya (centre) addressing the media. Pic by Indika Handuwala] Concerned over the possible new appointment, following the retirement of the current Attorney General (AG), the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) highlighted the need to appoint an impartial and independent person to the post. BASL President, Upul Jayasuriya stressed on giving due consideration to […]

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has put forward to President Mahinda Rajapaksa a set of criteria and processes to be followed when appointing Judges to the Apex Courts following a string of recent appointments that have overlooked both, merit and seniority. Highlighting the need to establish a formal process after the 17th Amendment […]

SLB– Western Province Senior DIG Anura Senanayake told court on 11 August that 27 intelligence officers have been deployed to ensure the security of BASL president Mr. Upul Jayasuriya without revealing their identity, Asian Mirror reported. Lawyers who appeared on behalf of Jayasuriya told that the Police should reveal their identity to clear misunderstandings over […]

Mr. Upul Jayasuriya, the President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka has been followed by an unidentified group (a motor bicycle and a three wheeler)  today (15th July 2014) for  hours. Mr Jayasuriya has been a strong leader of the Bar who has spoken strongly and fearlessly against the breach of Rule of Law, […]

President of the Sri Lanka Bar Association Upul Jayasuriya has lodged a complain at the cinnamon garden police saying a group of unindentified people who came in two motorcycles and a three wheeler followed his vehicle today. Jayasuriya has told the Cinnamon Garden police that the incident posed a threat to his personal security. A […]

MOD letterSri Lanka’s leading lawyers collective has slammed the circular issued to Non-Governmental Organisations by the National Secretariat for NGOs, under the Ministry of Defense and Urban Development. The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) says the said circular violates fundamental principles that govern Sri Lanka’s free and democratic society, which is guaranteed by the […]

Deaths in Police Custody Media Release/ 24th June 2014           The Friday Forum has urged the Inspector General of Police to respond as a matter of urgency to the current public concern, including that of the Bar Council, on the deaths that are taking place in police custody. A particularly shocking recent incident involves the death of a 17year old minor after assault in police custody. The […]

IGP Ilangakoon: Murder suspect? The Standing Committee of the Rule of Law of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka has issued a strong statement condemning the death of criminal suspects in police custody saying that the “acceptance of such blatant manifest untruths has made a mockery of the administration of justice in the country.’’ Commenting […]

BBS thuggery at a Press con Alleging that the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) has brought the country and Buddhism into disrepute, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka has urged Attorney General Palitha Fernando, PC to take remedial measures immediately.  President of the Bar Association, Upul Jayasuriya said that law enforcement authorities had failed in their […]

Upul Jayasuriya ”Since 2000 you have been at the private Bar. You have been a visiting Lecture at the University of Moratuwa. You have been a consultant to Sri Lanka Insurance and several government institutes. You have also been appointed a Member on several Government statutory boards.It is with this environment, that your Lordship has […]

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has requested the government not to extend the validity of gazette notification 1817/331, whereby the armed forces may be called out to maintain public order in all parts of the country.“The said Gazette appears unnecessary, disproportionate and imprudent and could lead to great abuse as was evident from […]

Dead body of a killed suspect The explanation given by the police regarding the death of three suspects who were under police custody arrested in connection with the killing of a police officer and his wife at Kamburupitiya, is unacceptable and the whole incident smells of another case of extra judicial killing. The explanation that the […]

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has expressed strong opposition to the investigations conducted by the Army into the Weliweriya incident on 1 August, where three persons were killed.They also requested Gampaha Chief Magistrate, Tikiri Jayatilleke, to call off all investigations conducted by the Army, alleging that they are in the blame for the […]

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) at a special meeting today decided that the entire Executive Committee would appear before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court to defend Chief Justice 43, Shirani Bandaranayake who is accused of non- declaration of assets. At a special Executive Committee meeting yesterday (which had been summoned to discuss the incidents that […]

Mr. Jayasuriya Some weeks ago, when a ceremonial sitting was held to welcome the new Supreme Court judge Rohini Perera-Marasinghe, the BASL President was not invited. This, lawyers say, is a breach of time-honoured traditions because normally it is the BASL that welcomes a new judge to the superior courts and sends out the invitations. […]

The BASL convocation ( photo – Sunday Times) Shirani Bandaranayake attended the Annual Convocation of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka in Colombo on March 30, 2013. She was invited as the 43rd Chief Justice of Sri Lanka. Mohan Pieris, the 44th Chief Justice, was not invited. Attorney General Palitha Fernando came to the venue […]

Shirani Bandaranayake attended the Annual Convocation of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka in Colombo on March 30, 2013. She was invited as the 43rd Chief Justice of Sri Lanka Update from Lawyers Collective on Historic Convocation of BASL Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) held a historic convocation and inducted its newly elected President […]