Lawyers for Democracy (LFD) has condemned the attempts made by an unidentified group today to intimidate the President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), Upul Jayasuriya while pointing out the incident is a serious indication of the prevalent crisis in the law and order situation in Sri Lanka.
Upul Jayasuriya
Jayasuriya had been followed by an unidentified group on a motorbike and a three-wheeler for several hours this afternoon. He had lodged a formal complaint regarding the incident at the Cinnamon gardens Police station at about 5 pm today.
The group of legal practitioners – LFD, issuing a statement this evening has pointed out that intimidations and surveillances of this nature have turned commonplace incidents for representatives of civil society organisations and Human Rights Defenders critical of the government.
They have gone on to point out that the government has also not shown any interest to investigate and prosecute offenders responsible for unsolved crimes over the years, against individuals who have voiced dissenting views against the Rajapaksa regime.
Senior lawyers Lal Wijenayake and J C Weliamuna, issuing the statement on behalf of LFD have called upon the government of Sri Lanka to conduct an impartial investigation into the incident and ensure the protection of the BASL President.
Ponkoh Sivakumaran / July 16, 2014
These efforts will backfire. Law groups are organized internationally and promote human rights, most of all the rights of their own groups. Taking on the lawyers is a dangerous game for governments to play. The Pakistani experience must be fresh in the minds of the Rajapoxes. This is the surest way to perdition. It is best that they keep off the President of the BASL. The Rajapozes will have no place to hide, not even in China if they try to do anything funny.
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Afzal / July 16, 2014
BASL seems to be one of the few organization which raise the voice against the oppression carried out by the GOV. It’s obvious the thugs who rule this country is going to take action against Mr. Upul Jayasuriya some point of time.
BASL is doing what all right minded organizations in Sri Lanka should be doing. At least on paper they are reporting what is wrong and what is right according the prevailing law of the country.
In a country where rule of law has no meaning this is a commendable act. Lets wait and see how K sheik verdict comes out.
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Lapatiya / July 16, 2014
All these unidentified Groups can be Identified only by Offense Secretary, Anura Senanayaka and Director PSD.
Tomorrow there will be a press release from Gotabaya Rajapaksha, Offence Secretary saying that he will resign from Offence Secretary post if proved that he is behind this Unidentified Group.
Now a days Van’s belongs to his “White Van Company” are being upgrading to use for Uva Provincial Council and later Presidential Election. This Motor cycle brigade being used only temporary.
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Park / July 16, 2014
Upul Jayasuriya is part of the court system in Sri Lanka. Its the duty of the Chief Justice to provide adequate protection to all the lawyers. If the Chief Justice cannot protect his own people then its time he resigns from his post.
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gamini / July 16, 2014
Park,
It is wishful thinking to expect the CJ to provide protection to the President BASL. This CJ was front page news on DM July 16th calling for Peace in the NPC, requesting the Chief Minister to work cordially with the Chief Secretary, amicably in the interest of Good Governance, when the petition filed by Nothern Province Chief Sec challenging the instructions issued by the Chief Minister was taken up for hearing before him. Was it not this same person a few moons ago said that there is nothing called Good Governance and they are only nice words confined to books only? What blackguards we have as Intellectuals, bereft of any self respect and shame.
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Park / July 17, 2014
When it comes to the judgements given by the courts these days relating to anything that will be negative to the decisions of the Central Rajapakse Government, the decision has always been “settle it amicably between your selves”. If this is going to be the decision why do we need courts, why do people have to petition courts, and above all why do we need a judicial system and a Cheap Justice?
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Amarasiri / July 16, 2014
BASL
“Senior lawyers Lal Wijenayake and J C Weliamuna, issuing the statement on behalf of LFD have called upon the government of Sri Lanka to conduct an impartial investigation into the incident and ensure the protection of the BASL President.”
The State will not do it. What a Joke
What did they do at Aluthgama? The killers were let go free.
So what are your options?
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Namal Perera / July 16, 2014
Possible only in a corrupt lawless Banana Republic with Jungle Law that serve and protect only criminals. Only way to survive in a such a Nation is to act deaf, dumb and blind. Any one who opposes or expose the corrupt Regime, the life will me made hell. God save former Democratic Sri Lanka from the crazy Jokers who believe our Mother Lanka is their private property.
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Rohan F. / July 16, 2014
Mr.Upul Jayasuriya,
Where did you ever see Sri Lanka police conducting an impartial investigation into thousands of past similar incident like this.
Didn’t you hear Rajapakse goon dog Senior DIG Police Anura Senanayake got another extention…..
You are asking favours or “Palm Reading” from the thieve’s mother. It will never happen. We know this is not the first time that this kind of danger happened to your life.
Get your self protected by the UNHRC, EU, CW and the Sri Lanka based foreign Diplomatic Community. Take your case international. Install GPS system and video or Cell phone camera with you. Install a CCTV camera system in your vehicle. Get a licensed fire arm or a stun gun or even a dog or some chili pepper to protect you where ever you go.
Please don’t act like a Girl or a baby, but be a Man with a dic…k.
Talk to Gen.Sarath Fonseka or UNP Harin Fernando if you need help as to how to protect your self from Rajapakse cowards.
Good luck.
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Peace Lover / July 16, 2014
Interesting to note what apologists of the regime will say to defend this cowardly action of trying to threaten BASL Pressie
Over to K A Sumanasekera (LEELA),Jim Softly,Ella Kolla ,Thondamannar et all,I bet they will cook up a comical defence and say ‘ah motorbike and 3 wheelers are a menace to society and thats why the govt is building more roads so that bikes and tuk tuks dont need to follow cars post nanthikadal (get the drift folk?)
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Saman Wijesiri / July 16, 2014
Mr. jayasuriya, You, no doubt, expected this kind of thing to happen sooner or later. If this did not happen, it would have been the miracle! The entire country knows who is the culprit behind this incident. Making a complaint to Police is okay – to place the incident on official record, but not to expect results. Police and the judiciary have gone to dogs! Most so called intellectuals are hypocrites and masses appear to be asses. Given this scenario, I think the worst is yet to come!
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Saman Wijesiri / July 16, 2014
Let us hope that Mr. Upul Jayasuriya will not take the easy way out like his predecessor!
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Marwan / July 16, 2014
Being the President of the Bar Association means a lot, since he is not a political appointee and the Bar Council elections are conducted in a free and fair manner with complete transparency. That said, Political appointees also do compete for the post, with full government backing to the extent of even buying votes to support their candidate. But the invaluable transparency provided in the conduct of the election itself defeats any possible interference to muddle and fuddle the outcome of the results.
Thus was born a candidate in the form of Mr. Upul Jayasuriya who has been endowed with the responsibilities of protecting what remains in sacred values of this hallowed institution to protect and guarantee neutrality and justice to all those who come seeking it. Very much unlike the lopsided and politically appointed CJ whose bias has ruined the hopes of receiving any fair judgments when it comes to People vs the State.
The judiciary was only one such institution that could have maintained proper checks and balances on a government gone rampant. But it has now become severely throttled by political interference, and worse is about to happen, the final blow on the Leader of the Bar Association, to totally annihilate any visible opposition to its megalomania tendencies. God save Sri Lanka and its people from these unjust rulers.
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crazyoldmansl / July 16, 2014
Any noise from the opposition?
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mada pokuna / July 17, 2014
Fix front dash & rear camera on car and upload to youtube.
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kris / July 30, 2014
This guy is another cheap Politian working hard with other bunch of looses to topple the goventment
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