By Colombo Telegraph –

“We, the members of the Kegalle Lawyers’ Association unanimously and unreservedly condemn the unjustifiable threat on the Hon. Magistrate of Mannar, and the unpardonable attack on the Mannar Court House, by a mob, in the line of duty as a Judicial Officer.It is with much regret that we record our deepest dismay and dissatisfaction on the  recent unwarranted attempts and attacks on the Judicial Officers, and the Attorneys-at –law and the Legal System as a whole.” says the Kegalle Lawyers’ Association.

We below reproduce its statement;

The members of the Kegalle Lawyers’ Association are quite shocked, saddened and dismayed over the recent unwarranted attempts and attacks on the Judicial Officers, and the Attorneys-at –law and the Legal System as a whole, and particularly the unjustifiable threat on the Hon. Magistrate of Mannar, and the unpardonable attack on the Mannar Court House, by a mob, in the line of duty as a Judicial Officer.

It is in this backdrop, the Members of the Kegalle Lawyers’ Association unanimously passed a Resolution at the Emergency Meeting held on 20^th July 2012 at the Kegalle Law Library, unanimously and unreservedly condemning this ugly trend.

They further resolved to call upon the Hon. Attorney General and the Inspector General of Police (I.G.P) to expeditiously hold an independent, impartial and comprehensive investigation into this matter; and to arrest and accordingly charge all the culprits involved in this cowardly acts, irrespective of their position or status, whatsoever.

They also called upon the authorities to charge all the culprits concerned for contempt of court.

The Members of the Kegalle Lawyers’ Association also calls upon His Excellency the President to strip the Minister concerned of his portfolio, immediately.

The Kegalle Lawyers’ Association expresses their unanimous solidarity with the Hon. Judge Mr. A. Judeson, as well as all the members of the Judiciary of the Island and assure of their cooperation and contribution towards any action; to uphold the integrity, independence and impartiality of the judiciary; and to ensure a non-recurrence of this nature.

The Members of the Kegalle Lawyers’ Association also calls upon all the Members of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka and all its Member Associations to condemn this dastardly act and to unite as professionals to preserve the right of every citizen to a just and a fair judicial system and all the integral values of a functioning democracy.

The Members of the Kegalle Lawyers’ Association held a protest in the centre of the Kegalle town, displaying 2 huge banners and posters expressing their concern over the matter and returned to the courthouse in a protest march.

The Attorneys-at-Law attached to the Kegalle Lawyers’ Association headed by, Mrs. Malini Jayawardene, their President and Mr. Priyantha Gamage, their Secretary, also distributed leaflets amongst the general public, condemning this dastardly act, in an awareness campaign.

Secretary – Priyantha Gamage

THE RESOLUTION:

The Members of the Kegalle Lawyers’ Association unanimously passed the following Resolution at the Emergency Meeting held on 20^th July 2012 at the Kegalle Law Library:

We, the members of the Kegalle Lawyers’ Association unanimously and unreservedly condemn the unjustifiable threat on the Hon. Magistrate of Mannar, and the unpardonable attack on the Mannar Court House, by a mob, in the line of duty as a Judicial Officer.

It is with much regret that we record our deepest dismay and dissatisfaction on the  recent unwarranted attempts and attacks on the Judicial Officers, and the Attorneys-at –law and the Legal System as a whole.

We further resolve to call upon the Hon. Attorney General and the Inspector General of Police (I.G.P) to expeditiously hold an independent, impartial and comprehensive investigation into this matter; to record and receive all the evidence of all direct as well as circumstantial evidence pertaining to this deplorable act; and to arrest and accordingly charge all the culprits involved in this cowardly acts, irrespective of their position or status, whatsoever.

We also call upon the authorities to charge all the culprits concerned for contempt of court.

We, the Members of the Kegalle Lawyers’ Association also call upon His Excellency the President to strip the Minister concerned of his portfolio, immediately.

We express our unanimous solidarity with the Hon. Judge Mr. A. Judeson,  as well as all the members of the Judiciary of the Island and assure of our cooperation and contribution towards any action as members of the Legal Profession to condemn this ugly incident; to bring the culprits to justice; to uphold the integrity, independence and impartiality of the judiciary; and to ensure a non-recurrence of this nature.

We, the Members of the Kegalle Lawyers’ Association also call upon all the Members of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka and all its Member Associations to condemn this dastardly act and to unite as professionals to preserve the right of every citizen to a just and a fair judicial system and all the integral values of a functioning democracy.

Secretary

-Priyantha Gamage

On behalf of the Members of the Kegalle Lawyers’ Association