By Colombo Telegraph –

“We, the Members of the Kegalle Lawyers’ Association revive our 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.” says the Kegalle Lawyers’ Association.

We below reproduce its statement in full;

10 August 2012.                               MEDIA RELEASE

The Kegalle Lawyers’ Association condemns the Mannar incident and urges to protect the independence of the Judiciary

The members of the Kegalle Lawyers’ Association are deeply concerned  over the unexplainable delay in the legal proceedings and the lackadaisical attitude of the Authorities re the recent disturbing events that took place in Mannar and particularly the continuing unjustifiable attacks on the Hon. Magistrate of Mannar,   on the Judicial Officers, and the Attorneys- at –Law and the Legal System as a whole, by certain Media and Politicians.

It is in this backdrop, the Members of the Kegalle Lawyers’ Association passed a Resolution at the Emergency Meeting held on 10^th August 2012 at the Kegalle Law Library, unanimously and unreservedly condemning this pathetic attitude calling for swift , firm and unbiased action re the criminals who took the law unto their own hands.

They further resolved to call upon the Hon. Attorney General and the Inspector General of Police (I.G.P) once again 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 yet again to strip the Minister concerned of his portfolio, immediately.

The Kegalle Lawyers’ Association re-affirmed 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 revived their 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

THE RESOLUTION:

The Members of the Kegalle Lawyers’ Association unanimously passed the following Resolution at the Emergency Meeting held on 10^th August 2012 at the Kegalle Law Library:

We, the Members of the Kegalle Lawyers’ Association express our deepest concern, dismay and dissatisfaction over the unexplainable delay in the legal proceedings and the lackadaisical attitude of the Authorities re the recent disturbing events that took place in Mannar.

We also unanimously condemn the continuing unjustifiable attacks on the Hon. Magistrate of Mannar, on the Judicial Officers, and the Attorneys- at –Law and the Legal System as a whole, by certain Media and Politicians.

It is in this backdrop that, we  resolve to call upon the Bar Association of Sri Lanka to

 Institute legal proceedings in the High Court in terms of Article 116(1) and (2)   of the      Constitution against those who have attempted to interfere with the administration of      justice by attacking the Magistrate Court of Manar and the Judges of the Magistrates   Court of Mannar on the 18^th July 2012;

take action to prevent the media from insulting judicial officers in any manner  and if any person or any institution has any complaint to be made against any  judicial officer or the Magistrate of Manner, such reference to be   made to the Judicial Services Commission and the Hon. Supreme Court.

We also call upon the Hon. Attorney General and the Inspector General of Police (I.G.P) once again 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 yet again to strip the Minister concerned of his portfolio, immediately, particularly in the light of the fact that, the Hon. Attorney-General has admitted that there is incriminating evidence to charge him for contempt of Court.

We re-affirm 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 revive our 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.