The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has today again written to Bar Association President, President’s Counsel Kalinga Indatissa raising concern regarding some members of regional Bar Associations, who have refused to appear on behalf of Muslim arrestees taken into custody in the backdrop of Easter Attacks.
Dr. Deepika Udagama – Chairperson – HRCSL
HRCSL Chairman Dr. Deepika Udagama, responding to the BASL President has said: “In the Magistrate’s Court of Marawila, all the regular practitioners refused to appear on behalf of six people who were arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act in the aftermath of the April 21st attacks. In fact, when a visiting lawyer had agreed to appear for the limited purpose of requesting bail (the most standard work of a Magistrate’s Court Practitioner), the regular practitioners were very hostile to her as well. Currently, the two remaining suspects (four were released) are represented by practitioners who do not usually practice in Marawila. This pattern is being reported from several other areas too where those charged under the PTA or Emergency Regulations following the April 21 attacks are compelled to seek representation from outside the area at great cost because the regular practitioners of the relevant court are refusing to represent them.”
“We once again thank the BASL for its responses and for expressing assurances of its commitment to upholding the Rule of Law and maintaining high standards of professional conduct. Therefore, given the transgressions we have observed we trust that you will conduct more in depth inquiries into recent media and other reports of unprofessional and unethical conduct of certain members of the Bar and take necessary action in that regard,” Dr Udagama further said.
We publish below the letter in full:
Mr. Kalinga lndatissa P.C. President
Bar Association of Sri Lanka
Mihindu Mawatha Hulftsdorp Street
Colombo 12.
Dear Mr. lndatissa,
I write in relation to your response (1st June 2019) and that of the Secretary of the BASL (6th June 2019) to my letter dated 2019.05.30 on the subject of unprofessional and unethical conduct of certain members of Regional Bar Associations. We thank BASL for same. The Commission, having studied your responses, wishes to make the following observations in that regard.
BASL’s responses stated that there have been no formal resolutions by any identified regional branch resolving to refrain from representing suspects arrested in relation to the terror attacks on 21st April.
We wish to reiterate that what the HRCSL letter dated 2019.05.30 stated is that “members of certain regional Bar Associations have refused to appear on behalf of members of the Muslim community arrested in the backdrop of the post-April 21st violent attacks”. We did not refer to the adoption of formal resolutions. ln fact, our observation was that certain regional branch associations had informal understandings amongst their members, or at least some of their members, not to appear for that category of suspects. Such practices were observed in several regions.
For instance, in the Magistrate’s Court of Marawila, all the regular practitioners refused to appear on behalf of six people who were arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act in the aftermath of the April 21st attacks. In fact, when a visiting lawyer had agreed to appear for the limited purpose of requesting bail (the most standard work of a Magistrate’s Court Practitioner), the regular practitioners were very hostile to her as well. Currently, the two remaining suspects (four were released) are represented by practitioners who do not usually practice in Marawila. This pattern is being reported from several other areas too where those charged under the PTA or Emergency Regulations following the April 21 attacks are compelled to seek representation from outside the area at great cost because the regular practitioners of the relevant court are refusing to represent them.
While we recognize that many members of the BASL will not resort to such unprofessionaland unethical practices, nonetheless it is the bounden duty of the BASL to take necessary action to ensure rectification even where a single member engages in such unethical condust. lt concerns us and the public when any member of the Bar engages in such unprofessional and unethical conduct. As we stated in our previous letter, such conduct has serious implications for the Rule of Law.
We once again thank the BASL for its responses and for expressing assurances of its commitment to upholding the Rule of Law and maintaining high standards of professional conduct. Therefore, given the transgressions we have observed we trust that you will conduct more in depth inquiries into recent media and other reports of unprofessional and unethical conduct of certain members of the Bar and take necessary action in that regard.
Sincerely,
Dr. Deepika Udagama,
Chairperson
Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka
Rajeev / July 27, 2019
CT!
Racists … hum, wonder who lawyers or the arrestees! Why should a lawyer in a good frame of mind appear for a bunch of killers/assisted in the killings or funded the operation of mass murder!!!
CT … did it ever cross your mind dingbat!!!
Sucks to be you!!!
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Salim / July 27, 2019
Rajeev
Lawyers are expected to defend their clients based on the law of the country. Not to decide whether his client is guilty or not. Otherwise who will defend murderers, gangsters, drug dealers, corrupt politicians and also racists such as yourself.
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Lanka Perera / July 27, 2019
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mike / July 28, 2019
Salim – “Otherwise who will defend murderers, gangsters, drug dealers, corrupt politicians and also racists such as yourself.” Good question, who will defend RAJEEV, Sri Lanka’s #1 racist?
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Mohammed / July 29, 2019
Rajeeve … I hv a doubt whether you are a human being. Are you also another product of todays devient Buddhism like Gnanasara. No! Muslims can take care of ourselves with many very good Buddhists in this country of ours. More you hatreds is stronger and more United we will be.
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umberto / July 31, 2019
Salim
one does not become a client of a lawyer unless he is accepted by the lawyer as a client and has received at least a nominal fee. Lawyers also have a conscience and if they feel that a particular person has committed an offence then he not accept that person as a client. But of course many lawyers accept rapists, murderers, looters, racists ,gangsters, drug dealers like you, as clients for money, especially the ill gotten money. So don’t complain you drug dealing racists. Hope srisena succeed in implementing the death penalty for people like you to free the country from your menace.
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Amarasiri / July 27, 2019
Rajeev,
Innocent until proven guilty.
How do you know they were arrested on fake charges. They need proper representation to sort it out. The guilty must be arrested and punished, but not the innocent. That is justice.
In Sri Lanka, Justice is a mockery.
There is a Muslim doctor at the Kurunegala Hospital who was arrested on fake charges by the Para-Sinhala Para-“Buddhist “ racists.
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Estate Labourer / July 27, 2019
Rajeev: If lawyers (including president’s counsels) can appear on behalf of alleged war criminals without any hesitation why can’t lawyers appear on behalf of alleged terrorists? Those ‘terrorists’ have to be presumed innocent until they are proved guilty. Just because they are from a minority community it is wrong to discriminate against them.
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Steve / July 27, 2019
Rajeev
The lawyers may not be racist but they are following the orders of the Racist Buddhist Monks who openly ask people to boycott Muslim businesses, and be anti-Muslim. Lawyers make a lot of money by defending murderers and criminals, which ever race they may belong to.
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Burt / July 28, 2019
Rajeev:
I am tempted to try and explain why it is wrong but then again I know you will not be able to comprehend. So why waste valuable time on a useless person.
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Mohamed the Atheist / July 28, 2019
Mr. Rajeev, what if an unrelated person from your race killed someone and then the police put you in prison simply because you’re from the same race as the killer? And what if lawyers refused to defend you because they think that everyone from your race is a killer? Would you agree with the lawyers’ decision? Do you think that there are no killers or criminals from your race? If you think so, then your full name must be Mr. Rajeev Lingembo
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rbh / July 28, 2019
Rajeev
A lawyer in a good frame of mind appear the arrested is illegal , first and probed before taking them into custody. and some were released. and it was a lesson for other lawyers.
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Analyst / July 28, 2019
Racist Lawyers played the same unprofessional dirty tricks on Tamils so called prisoners since the 1958. Nobody had raised the questions then?
They refused to represent Tamils , when they did they were intimidated and threatened by the other Racist from all walks. Including the Muslim Lawyers worked against Tamil detainees.
This is Racist Lanka ,no way they themselves nor anyone else can progress in this country.
This is the so called Buddha teachings they follow??
Mind boggles.
Deceiving the world in the name of Lord Buddha.
Suddenly UNHRC is questioning about the RACIST LAWYERS OF SLANKA. Where were they then when the Tamils were slaughtered without question passed all as TERRORISTS were killed and tortured.
HOPE THESE RACISTS WILL ROT IN HELL.
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Another July83 victim / July 30, 2019
Anal yst, who were those top lawyers? They were Tamil lawyers with the Very Clever Tamil Brains.
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Mohammed / July 29, 2019
Rajeeve … I hv a doubt whether you are a human being. Are you also another product of todays devient Buddhism like Gnanasara. No! Muslims can take care of ourselves with many very good Buddhists in this country of ours. More you hatreds is stronger and more United we will be.
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Ajith / July 27, 2019
Race (Religion) based politics reached its peak now. There is little hope for unity and peace in the country. The people should realise the consequences of this trend if this land is isolated in the world. If the Muslim countries take a step towards economic sanctions this country cannot stand for even few days. All the Politicians who are behind this agenda will run away leaving people to suffer.
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rbh / July 27, 2019
As per the leading lawyer the cases should be probed before the arrest why in this case no one come forward. In this cases such as this, the suspects’ statements should have been obtained first and probed before taking them into custody. It is a simple fact that anyone could have understood,” the Judge had noted.and the schooled lawyers can come out from this point of view why no action use this trump card that was effective.
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Ajay / July 27, 2019
Look at their picture. They do look like goons and enforcers. As I have already indicated in my comment on Harsha Gunasena’s article on the diabolical Malcolm Ranjith, many in the legal profession have become part of the Rajapaksa Deep State that is subverting justice and instigating hatred and violence in the country. These are lawyers from hell working exclusively for the devil.
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Buddhist / July 27, 2019
Fantastic opportunity to bring foreign lawyers to SL courts. Similarly when GMOA strikes foreign doctors should be brought to serve the people. Its a joke for Judges to refuse to sit in the bench on VIP cases but at the same time when a decision has to be given favorable to the same accused they sit on the bench to give that verdict. This country has gone to dogs. There is no law and order and the President who is the Minister in charge should give it over to Field Marshall Sarath Fonseka to put this right.
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Mallaiyuran / July 27, 2019
Madame Deepika is the biggest comedian of this century. When Navy and accolades raped and killed Vidya, UNP send three Sinhala Lawyers to Punkudutivu Court. People there would not have heard even what Sinhala means is. These lawyers forcefully dismissed the Tamil, PC class lawyer hired by the Vidya Family. Then mother and the brother were forcefully separated by Navy. Mother was forced to live in the middle of Sinhalese to make sure that she would not escape from government’s spy’s eyes. To match the Sinhala Lawyers in a Tamil court, the case was transferred to Trial at Bar. After three years no DNA evidence was produced in that rape case. So the judges ended accusing those who all ever Rapist Navy wanted, but not the Rapist Navy criminals. Where was Madame Deepika in that time to talk about these?
The Muslim lawyers appearing in Muslims arrested on terror charges cases are Social Service lawyers (Wife and Husband). They willingly travel from Colombo. It is only about 1 ½ travel. She (the lawyer) does appear free to Muslim clients only, not for Tamil or Sinhala clients. What is the big deal Deepika trying to blow out here? Every lawyer in the country has to appear to Muslims terror accused free? Why would a Tamil Muslim client hire a Sinhala lawyers, paid, when Tamil Muslim lawyer is free?
The Bombs for the bombers were released from Welisara Rapist Navy Camp by procedural, official & legal delivery. This is coordinated operation of everyone in the Sinhala Muslim Appe Aanduwa, against Tamil Christians.
Because they are Tamil Churches, Madame has not opened her mouth for at least asking the Aanduwa to give them some compensation. What a beautiful somersault is lady Deepika is doing here to save the Muslim Sinhala criminals by distracting on some unwanted minor matters, by blowing it as she is getting complain from all over the island, but the riots took place only in Chilow area.
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Rishard / July 27, 2019
Mallaiyuran,
.
I agree that every case must be handled lawfully & everyone’s right must be protected. But it is WRONG to give green signal or justification based on prejudiced mindset that only strengthens the perpetrators to victimize the weak one after the other. Are you happy Sri Lanka being lawless forever or correct itself at some point?
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Mallaiyuran / July 27, 2019
” Are you happy Sri Lanka being lawless forever or correct itself at some point?
Muslim ministers working with Sinhala Ministers to stand on the weak Tamils’ back and have it corrected is certainly not acceptable for me. If they don’t find any other straightforward methods to correct lawlessness, they should let the Tamils go. Tamils didn’t create this from 1948, but Muslim Sinhala Aanduwa created this. How did the Kalmunai issue get into the resignation that was organized to protect Rishard come out? Why the government has not declared these criminal ministers are corrected for once for all, with this resignation?
Hezbollah has taken a fortune in billions. It is lawful by the 2017 Act of Yahapalanaya. When do you plan to correct that law which, by the way, bought by Ranil and Mangala to save Old King’s $18B.
Why not Dr. Shafi could not be brought before PSC and cleared, but only Hezbollah and Rishard? Why the dream Law and Order Minister, Ponny didn’t ask Dr. Shafi to come to PSC? If so, Shafi would have been in home one month ago.
What is the big deal you are seeking when couple of lawyers refused to take up some cheap clients but Tamils, 15% of the population is not being able to get about 1% in the government service. When does Deepika want to write her propaganda material on that?
How Many Tamils, inside still, after 10,15,20,25 years, but cannot see their lawyers arranged by family? Yesterday the 38th woman died while looking for her children arrested by rapist army, but cannot be found. Is Deepika also a mother and have children.
What do you mean by “Correcting”? Thief robbing by back door & innocents get arrested by front door? Can you douse a fire with a gallon of gasoline? The appointment of Deepika and her office is to hoodwink UN on War Crime. Even after UN returned criminal armies Deepika only explained, but didn’t resign!
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Another July83 victim / July 30, 2019
Mallaiyuran Negombo is not a mainly Tamil area. It is mainly Sinhalese. Check your facts.
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Mallaiyuran / July 27, 2019
Why is Madame mixing the riots area Muslims with Bombers’ area Muslims? Why should not bombers’ area Sinhala lawyers refuse to appear for terrorists, while by law, they have to be represented by government’s social security defense layers. What an ugly lie is Madame is propagating?
One of the world’s largest illegal donations has come to Hezbollah’s private account. There are many grounds to investigate this case. Money laundering, fraudulent income, Tax evasion, illegal business, breaking education dept. codes, overriding MMDA with Sharia, terrorism teaching…….. Ranil and Mangala had passed the Foreign Exchange Fraud Amnesty Act of 2017 to save the criminals who carry out very large amount of frauds. So the Muslim Hezbollah is now saved by Sinhala Prime Minister Ranil and Sinhala Finance Minister Mangala on the Lankawe’s biggest money laundering case. Then why Madame is chest beating that Muslims are isolated and FR denied?
Rishard is accused in the Tamil Churches bombing. People demanded for investigation on Cabinet Ministers & Governors. It is extremely serious issue they are accused in 21/4. Here Madame is out on her lullaby song of “Save the poor ministers, they too have FR”. But 10 Muslims ministers illegally, irresponsibly resigned from cabinet, ignoring people’s wellbeing. Because it is only people’s wellbeing Deepika never accused Muslim Ministers resigning at one time, against investigating Rishard. The truth behind these ministers wanted to protect each other without even paying lawyers’ bill or losing ministerial perks and salary. The union of Muslim Ministers first said, it was not to protect the criminals, but they were trying to stop a new riot. By resignation pressure, criminally accused ministers got the impunity from Ranil’s PSC. The dream Minister of Law Order Ponny is one of them cleared the criminal. So they are asking for their minister positions back, saying they are clean. But those who were not accused are asking for a Thani Alaku in Kalmunai to come back. Is this how Sinhalese are discriminating Muslims? Comedy Thamai!
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Rishard / July 28, 2019
Mallaiyuran,
.
Looks like all the problems you have including your constipation would have been sorted out, had there been a pogrom against Muslims soon after the bombings?
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You show some suffering with psychological problem (called, post traumatic stress disorder, PTSD). But your mentality is very funny that you are more worried about minorities not being equally screwed or mistreated, than worrying about being treated right :-)
.
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Mallaiyuran / July 29, 2019
Rishrard,
I don’t know you are Tamil or Muslims or Sinhalese. My replies are general not like the you aim at one race.
your constipation would have been sorted out, had there been a pogrom against Muslims I got my constipation because in 1977 and 1983 I was in Colombo and I saw right after when Sinhala Rowdies broke the doors open and threw the things on the road, what happened to them. If you cover the head, while it is hiding the hair, it allows to pickup up lot of things. I read a comment after NWP riots somebody had written a comment that ” those guys are throwing things on the road; after breaking the door even they didn’t taking them” If you understand talk to Sinhala friend who the program in 1977 or 1983 he/she will voluntarily explain it to you. Is there a self respect left in the Sinhala Rowdies mind for not taking Muslims or Tamils’ thing to their homes?
I don’t want to write replay to second part. Obviously you understand why!
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Navin / July 27, 2019
Professionals behaving like racist goons. They are a disgrace to their profession, where you are supposed to consider people innocent until proven guilty. Looks like they have concluded all Muslims are guilty, which makes them racists, without any integrity and decency. All they have to do is look at the Kurunegala doctor who was wrongfully accused, and do the right thing by all clients.
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Good Sense / July 27, 2019
This is a country that plays a lot of games. Subject to verification it appears that some lawyers have refused appear for certain clients and as portrayed by Deepika their rights are violated. IF their human rights are violated Deepika her self can step in as the chair of HRC. She can send lawyers engaged by her commission to look into matters. Is she like the IGP under compulsory leave and others pen pushing on this subject? How will a letter to the President of the Bar Association help? I had the occasion to view a video statement by President’s Counsel Ali Sabry. It is important that the indiscriminate sweeping on Muslims for the slightest thing be stopped and put all the efforts to catch the real terrorists. Just because Zaharan and others were BMW users, we now see more BMW cars subject to search at check points. That shows some aspects of mendacity and the ineffectiveness of our law enforcement apparatus at junior levels. Our intelligence must have the foresight to visualize what next. Prevent further explosions at any cost. Indiscriminate arrests will only cause people who never dreamt of violence to take to violence. Deepika must bring it to the notice of the Executive branch of the Government, that is, His Excellency, the IGP, the AG and lots others and convince them to see to that the juniors act with some sobriety. Alternatively, let a command post be setup at the center where every arrest on this nature is reported seeking their advice to do what next. That could prevent some of these silly arrests as reported in the media.
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JD / July 27, 2019
It may be Lawyers are infested with foreign Secret Services. PSC is there to infest the Sri lankan intelligence with Foreign Secret Services. At present, PSC is studying the net work of officials. I heard the world head office of the Human rights enterprise is going to change the way they define human rights. So, after that Deepika Udugama might be getting less criticism.
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LANKA Tamil / July 27, 2019
This tells us how backward is mindset of some Sinhalese racists people? It tells how some monks and some racist politicians have inspired these people not take action. What about some medical Drs and health professionals discriminating against Muslim patients in hospital: Sinhalese discrimination against minority communities take in many form at the hands of BBS and racist politicians…I do not what kind lawyers are these people? may be they have already made their money from MR and co and BBS and co.. otherwise, how could any lawyers object to work for money from any parties.. They need to read law once again…
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Mallaiyuran / July 28, 2019
” What about some medical Drs and health professionals discriminating against Muslim patients in hospital “
UNHRC can work according to how much commission Yahapalanaya ministers can wield from Arabia. The current bill settled is only for talk about BASL. If you want to talk about GMOA, you need to have the Contract signed first, with the purchase order and 50% remitted affront . Then we can take a look on that too.
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Isharath / July 29, 2019
Mallaiyuran,
–
“The current bill settled is only for talk about BASL. If you want to talk about GMOA, you need to have the Contract signed first”
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Now that you don’t have to spend on buying arms, why not invest half of that money on UNHRC and get your issues sorted out instead of cursing & blaming Mrs. Deepika and HRC?
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Raj-UK / July 27, 2019
In a democratic country, everybody has the right to justice & considered innocent until proven guilty. If the defendant is unable to hire a lawyer, the state provides a lawyer. Lawyers I know are proud of their profession because they stand up for law & justice but it appears lawyers in SL are quite happy to defend murders, rapists & other criminals but take the racist stand when it comes up to poor defendants. Wonder if doctors will also stop treating alleged murders despite their Hypocritical oath
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JD / July 27, 2019
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Amila / July 27, 2019
Problem is the educational system and making law exams somewhat easier. This current educational system makes more and more rescists in every community. If you carefully lok at those lawyers who oppose the general law, they are from rescists backgrounds and may have had education at rural schools which normally does not have students from other communities.
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Mallaiyuran / July 27, 2019
Friend,
In Hakeem time there were two jokes: One time an Afghani Ports & Shipping Minister visited to Lanakwe. Somebody asked him why would Afahan needs a Ports and Shipping Minister, (Because there is no ports) he replied “why then you have a justice minister?”.
Sinhala Students Climbed on the rooftop of the Law college because they could not go to Law College, but Hakeem has been pushing 75, 80 students and all were coming out with first class honor. Isn’t that is what Badiuddin Mahmud did? What is the proportion of the Muslim population and what is proportion of MPs in the parliament and what is the proportion of their ministers in Cabinet. Where do you find racism there?
Why Deepika is blindfolded on all these before she started cry for lawyers to the ISIS accused?
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JD / July 28, 2019
Malle-U-Ran: It is the same with TNA. and Tamil Parliamentarians. compare the population in the north and number of TNA Mps in the parliament. One parliamentarian for every 15,000 or so.
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Mallaiyuran / July 28, 2019
Softy Moda,
” One parliamentarian for every 15,000 or so.”
Is that your Uncle, PM Ranil was your math teacher also when you were a kid?
In that case, you need to give us another 100 MPs s for the 1 1/2 Million Tamil diasporas your grandpa, JR chased out to West during Black July 83.
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Amila / July 28, 2019
What your saying about 75-80 students of hakeem maybe true. Even in past people have questioned about how due gunasekara (former minister), mahinda, his son became a lawyer as well. Also you can see gota getting massive favour from legal system every time his cases comeup.
These things needs to get corrected soon otherwise people will start taking law in to there hands
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Jackson / July 27, 2019
Q. What’s the difference between a lawyer and a mosquito.
A. One is a blood sucking parasite the other a insect.
Q. Why wont sharks attack lawyers.
A. Professional courtesy.
Q. What’s the difference between a Vampire and a Lawyer.
A. A Vampire only sucks blood at night.
Q. Why are lawyers like nuclear weapons.
A. If one side has one, the other side has to get one. Once launched they cannot be recalled. When they
land they screw up everything forever.
Q. What do lawyers and sperm have in common.
A. One in 3,000,000 has a chance of becoming a human being.
A man walks into a bar and sees a good looking girl seated at the counter.
” Hi there lady what are you doing tonight. ” says the man.
She turns to the man and looking him straight in the eye says ” I’ll screw any man, any time, any place and it does not matter to me as long as i am paid.”
The guy raises his eyebrows and says ” you must be kidding. What firm of lawyers do you work for.”
Q. What can a goose do, a duck can’t and a lawyer should.
A. Stick his bill up his ass.
Q. What’s the difference between a lawyer and a leech.
A. After you die a leech stops sucking blood.
Q. What happens to a lawyer when you give him Viagra.
A. He becomes taller.
Q. Where can you find a good lawyer.
A. In the Cemetery.
Q. Why do you bury lawyers deep down under a pile of shit.
A. Because deep down under that pile they are really good people.
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Ajay / July 28, 2019
Q. Why does the bar association code of ethics prevent sex between lawyers and their clients?
A. To prevent clients from being billed twice for essentially the same service.
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sellam / July 28, 2019
It is the right of any lawyer either to accept or refuse to represent an individual who had allegedly committed a crime. If no lawyer is available to represent the individual, the presiding judge could nominate a lawyer to represent the accused. If so willing the accused himself can defend himself. The human Rights have no say in this matter. What did the Human Rights do when thousands of people were exterminated.
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Mano / July 28, 2019
What was good for the Tamils, should be good for the muslims as well. BELIEVE OR NOT, Sri Lanka is a land of equality ,fraternity and liberty. Here is a land where all get their fair share depending on, who is the giver and who is the taker.
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Thappu / July 28, 2019
The subject did not interest me much. After having graced thru a few comments, I feel obliged to weigh in.
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Dr. Deepika Udagama is doing her part in her capacity as Chairperson, Human Rights Commission of SL. She is steadfast. Don’t make an issue out of handling her job.
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Lawyers in Sri Lanka seldom uphold the norms expected of them. They are a breed unto themselves.
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I am sure that there are enough Muslim lawyers to go around, to look after these clients. So, that is not the issue.
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The only question, hence, is the morality of the lawyers who had declined to appear for these clients.
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The least said about morals of Sri Lankan lawyers the better.
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Mallaiyuran / July 28, 2019
If you have difficulty to understand Madame Deepika’s job, just think of Opposition Party in a democratic government. It is also paid by people, just like the government party rulers. But it functions just against the government. I mean – against. So a group is paid by people just only oppose their government. Because that is how the government can the ensure democracy is surviving. Human Right Commission is the opposition party of the justice system of the people. They pay for it just to oppose the legal system & the government. That is how the sincerity of the legal system is up held.
Non-governmental lawyers have nothing to do with HRCSL. If they are not functioning according to the law, she only can tip the criminal investigation department to take action. She has no business to attempt to blackmail BASL. (It is irrelevant that it’s worse than HRCSL). There is not one single case Deepika took against ruling party in her employment time by the Aanduwa. Remember Sampanthar never opposed Yahapalanaya as the opposition leader? That is why Yahapalanaya got corrupted.
Does that mean there are no HR violations in Lankawe? Then why do you need that office? HRCSL is only a propaganda office of UNP Yahapalanaya. So far she has not talked about one case on Tamil victim’s issue. There is no one want to get a compensation for the Vaharai Police shooting Tamil victims who were kept in prison. TNA doesn’t want because it was terror accused victims. Mano Ganesan does want because it took place in the East. Can you tell me why that case has not come into the files of Lady Deepika, if she is doing her job? Who is going to talk against the government on those poor boys, even who families also kept under the Rapist Army boots to suppress their complaints.
If she is only grand, grand, granddaughter of Sinha Man Wijeya and knows only Sinhalese, then Tamils have to go alone.
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Mark La Brooy / July 28, 2019
This will play very badly because it gives those arrested to claim that their actions were in part justified because of the endemic racism towards Muslims in the country. “Even the impartial Sri Lankan Bar Association won’t represent us” they will say. In any event why can’t the state appoint defence lawyers?
Proper justice must be done and be seen to be done otherwise these people will go scot free.
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Terrence Rodrigo / July 28, 2019
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Nathan / July 28, 2019
If there is no racism then they will lose their identity. Even otherwise these crooks have no ethical standard. This s is how we have evolved and this is what we have achieved.
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Gune / July 28, 2019
How can the donkey HR people force lawyers to appear on behalf of anyone? Simply it is the discretion of the lawyer.
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Suranga Gunasekera / July 28, 2019
The Muslim lawyers should represent their own. Sinhalese representing these accused will be a good way to fuel racism.
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If the decision is to cover up the accused, UN human rights will applaud the lawyers represent it but won’t be able to face the Sinhalese community.
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If the decision is against the accused, UN human rights will crucify the lawyers represent it.
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Muslims representing their own will give them an opportunity to voice their true opinion of the accused.
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This way we will be able to bridge the gap between the two ethnic groups.
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This is bad business for the UN and their clients. Their own Jobs are on the line here.
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chiv / July 28, 2019
OMG, what a self righteous people (lawyers and their followers here in CT) we have in Lanka. If lawyers can appear for MS/MR/GR, please tell me , is there any individual worse compared to them. Lawyers are willingly appeared to be in the wrong side of the law as in MR vs CJ/Shiranee and SF. advised MS in staging unconstitutional coupe,appeared for Duminda defending a daylight murder and appeared for the same Muslim Businessmen in past, who,s kids are now believed to be involved in terror, but for some bull shit reasons will not appear for poor Muslims who are being framed now. Leave lawyers what if these individuals say people like Rajeev (or is it Rajeewa the well known racist) comes to emergency/casualty and doctors refuse to treat based on bias and prejudice. What you have in Lanka right now is Low and Odor. Here are some facts for you. Dr. Shafi, was given bail and the criminal charges were dropped because of request, by non other than MS in the capacity of Def. Minister, due to lack of evidence.. During investigation 45 doctors out of 47 did not have any complaints. Among the other two one was the instigator a Sinhalese doctor who was behind the rumor mill because of her past conflicts and jealousy towards Shafi. CID also found Weerabandara (the second one) lied, forged documents, back dated complaints, deletes documents —-etc. Who is the terrorist here ?????Is it Shafi or the rest of the scums ???? Hundreds of immoral, bigots who joined in filing false complaints, for money, are the real racists. People who burned the factory and killed a old man are racist. Most of the politicians are racists.
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Estate Labourer / July 28, 2019
Lawyers all over the world are generally disliked by their own clients, but our lawyers are in a class of their own. Most of them who represent plaintiffs cannot or will not draft the plaint correctly the first time itself. In many cases this is due to carelessness or incompetence but sometimes it is done deliberately. Three, four, five or more years later someone spots a serious error or omission in the plaint. Then an amended plaint has to be filed. Thus, all the lawyers involved in the litigation are assured of a long term, regular income whereas many of the clients on both sides are gravely victimized.
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Andare 2.0 / July 28, 2019
Meanwhile in the real news some UN clown has asked for permission to meet the chief justice and few other SC judges. Looks like our spineless government has already agreed to grant him permission. How dare the UN influence our justice system like that ? Is the UN now in charge our justice system or what ?
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Mallaiyuran / July 28, 2019
Sooner or later UN is going to throw out of its membership, the Wildlife Sanctuary, SinhaLE-Lankawe, labelling as not a country and people don’t live there. The Arabians and Chinese are going to capture the roaming around, two legged special species, Sinhala Intellectuals and put them in their homes for house work. Remember two centuries ago Europeans did in Africa? There was no UN that time to protect African countries. So whoever got it had it for them. !
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Jambu / July 28, 2019
They would not be racist had they known who Adam represents.
Click on my name and read the sub-topic “… ” is the Adam of the Abrahamic faith.
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Terrence Rodrigo / July 28, 2019
Ms Udugama is terribly wrong in her understanding of legal rights of the accused.
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The guarantee provided by the constitution in democracies and international human right is for ‘legal representation” of a person accused.
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However, this does not make any lawyer obliged to represent a person accused of a crime or even a misdemeanor that the lawyer might disagree with on ethical and moral grounds.
To force a lawyer in such cases will be a gross violation of the lawyer’s human rights.
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In such cases the accused will have to rely on state legal services provided through a ‘duty lawyer’. This satisfies the persons right to legal representation.
[edited out]
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Mallaiyuran / July 28, 2019
Terrence Rodrigo,
Ms Udugama is Ranil selection. New King shows little bit antagonism on her because of this fact. This is not anything close to Dilrushi’s case who risked her life taking on Old Royals breaking New Kingi’s resistances. But Ms Udugama and Ranil used this difference well to market their propaganda. Even the UN Army wetting was assigned to her by UN, not by anybody locally, who believed her credential. She is not true. But she defrauded that duty, by letting criminals serve in UN. Then she explained and Army supported her theory. What a Comedy.
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Terrence Rodrigo / July 28, 2019
Sounds all Greek to me!
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chiv / July 29, 2019
If a doctor refuse to treat you with heart attack (MI) , because he/she is not comfortable with your name, is that the right of doctor ????
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Factual / July 29, 2019
Judging by your name, your mother should not have given birth to you!
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