The Standing Committee on Rule of Law of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka has today condemned the behaviour of the members of the ‘Bodu Bala Sena’ who stormed Nipon Hotel where a group of Buddhist monks headed by Rev Watareka Vijitha Thero and other representatives of Civil Society organizations were holding a press conference to explain their version on the allegations by the BBS with regard to the settlement of displaced persons at Wilpattu.
Issuing a statement today the Standing Committee on Rule of Law of the BASL said; “We are not on the merits of the rival claims made by the parties. What concern us and what is alarming is the way a group that was holding the press conference was manhandled and how Rev. Vijitha Thero was forced to make a statement in the presence of Police Officers. As seen in the TV telecast this is the worst situation that we have witnessed in the long list of events that has demonstrated the complete breakdown of Rule of Law in our country and the rise of rule by self proclaimed saviours of justice, undoubtedly under the protection of powerful personalities. The perpetrators of these crimes which are offences punishable under the Penal Code and also blatant violations of fundamental rights under the constitution act with total impunity.
“In the midst of all these grave violations of Rule of Law it is surprising to see the stoney silence of the authorities at the top who has a duty to speak out and explain to the people what their stance is in respect of third dangerous developments. The silence on their part speak more than what is necessary for civil society to realize where we are and where we are moving towards.
“The unexpected distinguished overflowing crowd that gathered at the SLFI auditorium on the 25th of March at the call of the BASL to protest against militarization and erosion of Rule of Law is a welcome development that has the potential to develop to an organized resistance to the dangerous developments of such as the militarization of civil society and breakdown of Rule of Law.”
Park / April 24, 2014
If the Bar Association honestly believes and wants to get the attention of the Government to rectify all the illegal activities that are taking place in the country, there is only one thing the Bar Association can do – do not go to courts for one week as a protest. If the Bar Association is not prepared to do this then the question must be asked, is the Bar Association just making noise for the sake of making noise!
/
Don Stanely / April 24, 2014
Sri Lanka needs an URGENT BILL passed Against the Incitement of Religious and Racial Hate Crimes and Hate Speech. BBS leaders need to be locked up for Hate Crimes and Hate Speech and disturbing the peace.
Why is that coward Vasudeva Nanayakkara who was supposed to table such a bill 2 years ago under his Ministry of National Languages and Social DISintegration delaying the process?
What is the point of having a Special Unit of the Police to address Racial and Religious attacks? ALL police need to be trained to take urgent and immediate action against Hate Crime to prevent a repeat of the RIOTS of JULY 1983. The fact is that the greatest Hate crimes are being committed by the Gotatbaya Rajapaksa’s Balu Sena (BBS) to spread CHAOS and DIVIDE, DISTRACT and RULE Sinhala Modayas. This was promised by Mahinda Jarapassa’s CHAOS SPECIALIST, Lalith Weeratunge in a speech in Geneva – if the regime is held accountable for its war crimes.. Sri Lanka is headed for a CHAOTIC Syria-like situation today with the Saffron Thugs and Jarapassa’s MILITARY DICTATORSHIP steered by Goon Gota’s DEEP STATE.
/
S. Modaya / April 24, 2014
Do not worry Don!
Goon Gotas’ CHAOS unleashed by BBS will enable and provide perfect legitimacy for India to annex northeast Sri Lanka, a la Russia in Crimea.
This will be the greater legacy of the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime and its Chaos Specialists to Lanka’s Sinhalaya Modayas!
They are still eating Kevum after the New Year!
/
wathie / April 25, 2014
hay modaya, Unlike Crimea, which had been a part of Russia for ages and where a base has been leased to Russia for its naval fleet to anchor, Sri Lanka North has no connection whatsoever to modern India. Besides India knows Tamils have waged political battles for separatism in India for decades and still do clandestinely.
/
Amarasiri / April 25, 2014
Don Stanely
“Why is that coward Vasudeva Nanayakkara who was supposed to table such a bill 2 years ago under his Ministry of National Languages and Social DISintegration delaying the process?”
1. He is following his elders from LSSP, and sacrificing his principles for his ministerial potion.
He is not much different from other Shills, like Jayantha Danapala and many others . Go with the flow.
Lanka Sama Samaja Party and NM Perera and LSSP sells out to the …….
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lanka_Sama_Samaja_Party
The Lanka Sama Samaja Party (literally Lanka Equal Society Party, in Sinhala: ලංකා සම සමාජ පක්ෂය, in Tamil: லங்கா சமசமாஜக் கட்சி) is a Trotskyist political party in Sri Lanka.
The party was founded in 1935 and emerged as a major political force in the 1940s. It joined a coalition government in 1964, and was then expelled from the Fourth International. It peaked in political strength in the 1970s, but has declined gradually during the last 30 years.
n 1964 the LSSP held a conference, at which the majority agreed with a theoretical categorisation of the SLFP by Hector Abhayavardhana as a petty bourgeois party, leaving the door open to a united front with it. A minority faction, led by Colvin R de Silva and Leslie Goonewardena, opposed the move but opted to stay within the Party. Another minority faction led by Edmund Samarakkody, Merryl Fernando, V Karalasingham and Bala Tampoe, left the party and formed the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (Revolutionary)- LSSP(R).
Later that year, the LSSP joined the coalition government of Sirimavo Bandaranaike. Three of its MPs became Ministers; Dr N. M. Perera (Finance), Cholomondely Goonewardena (Public Works) and Anil Moonesinghe (Communications). The LSSP was expelled from the Fourth International, and the membership was passed on to LSSP(R).
In the parliamentary election held on 2 April 2004, the party was part of the United People’s Freedom Alliance, which won 45.6% of the popular vote and 105 out of 225 seats. One of those 105 seats belongs to LSSP.
/
desperateLANKA / April 24, 2014
I wish I could know the roles
a) lawyers´collective
b) Bar association
Earlier I believed Lawyers in general could raise a big voice against the injustice of variety of forms that the folks face today.
But we had hundreds of cases that just burried under the country, lately, not forgetting the heavy loads of HEROIN import to the country. There are happeenings incidents of high grade, but nothign seem to work against any of the take parters.. or perpetrators. Not the least seem to be fulfiling in terms of BBS´s brutal unethical, reactions towards any places, regardless of respecting any kind of norms and regulations.
Normally, there should be a system in the country to go against anyone who would go against the norms.
But BBS to react as a religioius force (yet not seen armed, but it will be the reality soon now), while not respecting police men and women is nomeans acceptable. Be the issue of grave concerns, there should be a proper way to punish if Minster of Badiudeen or the mentioned monk may have gone wrong with the issue: But this to be functioned totally unexpected ways, show the level of current adminstration not being able to settle these issues.
They are scared of handling or touching MONK related issues, thinking that would destroy their future voter base.
There, they just ignore the nation´s alarming issues. It is like betrayal of heavy grade. People s votes have been used for their political survival, but nothing would have been focused when people cry for their security and justice.
/
mj / April 24, 2014
President tells Vijitha to attack Gnanasara!
Telephoning Ven. Watareka Vijitha Thera, convener of the controversial Jathika Bala Sena yesterday (22) afternoon, president Mahinda Rajapaksa had promised him anything he wants for his safety, Temple Trees sources say.
“Ven. Thera, this Gnanasara is an IRC wearing a robe. I cannot do anything about him because I respect the robe. He has insulted my mother who is dead. I won’t forgive him for that. Younger brother Gota does not listen to me he don’t mine IRC insulting our dead mother. He is playing hell by taking his powers to his hands. Do not fear anything. I will give you PSD security. Ven. Thera, you should not run away in fear. I will take care of everything. What you have to do is attack Gnanasara and others in Bodu Bala Sena. I will take care of everything,” he has told the Thera.
Overhearing the telephone conversation, an advisor has told the president, “Mr. president, it is one of the gravest sins to divide the Sangha.” Angered by that remark, the president has said, using his regular language “… Dividing the Sangha is taking place among the monks. The laity can divide the Sangha. You cannot teach me Buddhism,” and showed him the door…
BBS leader Gnanassara gets automatic pistol from police field HQ: Officially not recorded
(Lanka-e-News- 23.April.2014, 4.00PM)
The SL criminal defense secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse had on 21st Monday issued an automatic firearm and matching bullets in compliance with the request made in writing by Bebedhu Galagoda Aththe Gnanassara Thero, the leader of the Bodhu Bala sena (BBS) which has by now been condemned and classified as a terrorist organization internationally.
The firearm identified as Brownig 9 m,.m. automatic pistol of Czechoslavakia , as well as 50 matching bullets have been issued.
Usually , firearms issued by the defense Ministry are from the armory of the army, but the firearm issued to Gnanassara Thero is from the stores of the Police field force headquarters . The weapon and bullets have been issued out of those allotted to the VIPs. Gnanassara collected them after signing , but the issue of the weapon and bullets, and receipt of them had neither been recorded in the registers nor signatures taken of the recipient .
The issue of arms and bullets just by taking signatures on a temporary letter, without records being made in the official registers, to the BBS which is operating as a paramilitary group of the lawless Rajapakse regime is fraught with grave danger and holds out most ominous portents to the peace loving and law abiding citizens of the country , sources say.
It is the consensus that BBS is arming itself with weapons supplied by the government but falsely declaring to the media that they are subjected to threats by the government . It is also issuing bogus media communiqués to that effect making loud announcements about the letters sent to the President , in order to lead the gullible people down the garden path.
/
BBS Rep / April 24, 2014
I am not surprised at the stony silence of the Rajapaksa Cabal at all. BBS is their own creation. Chaos is what has given the present president unprecidented powers. Chaos in the form of another 1983 pogrom is what would best serve the Rajapaksa Mafia. Imagine how much more the Rajapaksas could consolidate their powers if the Muslims could be prodded to rise up. Surely by now the Bar Association of Sri Lanka should have realized this.
/
Sama / April 24, 2014
It is all becauase they the BBS have closer links with Rajapakshe siblings.
There is absolutely no rule of law in this country today.
UN or any other world bodies should closely study the alarming situation of a nation that once enjoyed good kind of democratic values.
/
Mallaiyuran / April 24, 2014
Well; One Government minister (I forgot his name) said “Muslim community has ministers on the cabinet. Why are they not settling at ministry level, why they are dealing with ven. Vijitha Thero”. Everybody understands the meaning of this sentence. That means “We ministers have set up this drama. Just do not worry”
Hakeem went to Geneva and gave a presentation that minorities are doing well in Royal Government. He could have excluded Tamils, but his purpose of the trip was to destroy the Tamils so used the word “minorities” rather than “Muslim” at Geneva.
Two reports were given by Hasan ali, recently, for two people. One is for Navi Pillay, other one is for the King. Then Hakeem and King put a big drama that the reports given to Navi Pillay has been given to Diaspora Organization and they were using it in UNHRC and to give presentation to Arabian countries too. To my knowledge nobody knows what Diaspora organization gave any presentation to which Arab countries. That part is only an election drama. Utter lie. Now Hakeem is saying there was nothing offending to the government in the reports given to Navi Pillay. Latter, on the other report, Hasan Ali said that he has reported to King that LTTE has killed 20,000 Muslims. It appears that the both reports are basically identical. That means Hakeem one more time played a drama for election with the King. He is certainly not all at worried about BBS.
Now the new drama has been set up is the one between BBS and the Muslims leaders. BBS is practically not doing anything other than spreading some hate message. This is to give benefit to SLMC only. On the next election no Muslims will vote for UNP candidates(because of the racially flaring messages. Muslims votes mainly to UNP). So SLMC will get it all and work with the government. The innocent fool here is Ven. Vijitha Thero.
UNP’s Muslim head has advised the Muslim MPs not even boycott the parliament or join UNP. What is this means? If they sit independently, the Muslims Community will think their representatives are no longer with government but, on any voting of bills, they are always free to vote to the government, without any pressure of UNP. This is the guy leading the disorganized UNP. I do not see a Muslim Leader saying anything about government. Only one person, Asath Sali called BBS to come for a debate on the stories the BBS is spreading about minorities. Every other leader is heavily involved with the government on putting up dramas.
I do not know if the Bar Association knows that the Justice Minister is Hakeem. If so, they could have taken the complaint to him too.
/
roy / April 24, 2014
ela ela Gnanasera, wear an amuday and climb a coconut tree without harassing innocent people. If you want power go and suck Gota.
/
Vibhushana / April 24, 2014
The Parliament is about to enact a law banning hate speech. Hopefully BBS and TNA et al days will be numbered.
/
Robert.R / April 24, 2014
Unlike the BBS the TNA is ELECTED, if that also applied to them the first to go should be JHU
/
Vibhushana / April 24, 2014
Hate speech is hate speech isn’t it really? If it comes from an elected party is doubly worrying because it says something about the people who elect them.
/
Robert.R / April 25, 2014
So you agree JHU should be included but of course you remembered to mention the TNA but not the JHU, very telling isn’t it
/
ruwan / April 24, 2014
1 million times worst than LTTE.
/
Modus Operandi / April 24, 2014
ITS HIGH TIME..that the world must start Banning BBS and its Allied forces (JHU/RAVANA DOGS/SINHALA RAVAYA PIGS/UPFA Criminals).
BAN THE SINHALA TERROR GROUPS….
Why US, BRITAIN, EUROPE & ASIA delaying???? Delaying for what????
IS the world waiting another RWANDA to happen????
MAY GOD CURSE SONIA for helping these criminals to come to power….Amen!
/
sangakkara / April 24, 2014
Gnanasaara for president ! (I think he should first shave his armpits !!!! )
But seriously their new attacks are against the government and for the protection of buddhism. Do we see a Hitler in the making ??? It maybe a good thing that he is attacking the ministers and government now. They may silence him as they would not want to lose their corrupt power seats.
If the whole of Sri Lanka unitedly stands against these morons there is still some hope to bring them down.
Here is an interesting concept: What if this BBS is being used to topple the Rajapaksha regime and that would lead to the end of the BBS as well ???
/
Safa / April 24, 2014
The govt seems to be scared of Gandasara. Maybe his pistol will be used to kill a VVIP like in the case of SWRDB.
/
Sapumal / April 24, 2014
bar association has power to create environment which is better for the country and the judiciary system. Even though ,they haven’t done anything during the past turbulent period in judiciary. We don’t need mere statements against these unfortunate developments. You have to think about the country now or never. Remember what happened to Bar association and the courts in Jaffna under LTTE at that time. Here comes Fascist, Nazis BBS under the umbrella of Nazis regime. Take a Decision. Give up all boot licking policies. STOP appearing for BBS in courts. (Rishad Badurdeen and gang too.) Otherwise , one day they will come against the Judiciary too.
/
justice / April 24, 2014
So far,lawyers appear reluctant to appear in police stations with arrested citizens,and demand their presence and the right to advise them before and during interrogation.
This is routine in countries which actually enforce the Rule of Law.
The day this happens,lawyers will gain the respect of all citizens.
This is more important than condemning clashes between groups of monks.
What private groups,even in robes do,is a matter for law-enforcement and legal remedies are available for all.
In this matter,the Ministry of Buddhist Affairs should be concerned.
/
eusense / April 24, 2014
MR should list BBS as a terrorist organization and ban it similar to what he did for Tamil organizations. As in many countries religion should be separated from governance. This should apply to Christian bishops of the north too. The only function of the clergy is to look after the spiritual life of the followers but not to advice how to govern.
/
Robert.R / April 24, 2014
Will it also apply to Asgiriya and Malwatta off the cuff?
/
eusense / April 25, 2014
Robert,
Not really, as far as I know they have not being involved in violent activities and haven’t formed a cult.
/
Robert.R / April 25, 2014
Could you tell me (with proof) the violent acts done by northern bishops and the cults???
/
JimSofty / April 24, 2014
Who Bar Association has to put their nose in every thing ?
Who are they getting funds from ?
/
Punchinilame / April 25, 2014
” I do not know if the Bar Association knows that the Justice Minister is Hakeem. If so, they could have taken the complaint to him too.” writes Mallaiyuran, inter alia…
This is the ground situation:
“An Afghan, upon landing at Colombo Airport, introduced himself to a Colombo Immigration Officer, as Ex-Minister of Ports & Shipping of Afghanistan.
The Immigration Officer was surprised, and asked: “But there is no sea in Afghanistan. How can you be the ex Minister of Ports & Shipping?”
The Afghan replied: “Oye Haramzaade ke aulad, don’t you have a Minister for Law & Justice in Sri lanka?”
/
Leon / April 25, 2014
Why don’t these idiot Muslim Ministers in the Govt appeal to the other Muslim countries who can put an end to this type of thuggery by the mad monks who are possibly IRC’s ?
/
Crazyoldmansl / April 25, 2014
No you bloody bar association it is NOT surprising at all. It is a situation that you help create by defending criminals of all sorts instead of advising them to plead guilty if they are guilty and accept their punishment or if they wish to have the law changed to decriminalize whatever offense they are charged for – and you agree that it should be criminalized – tell them how to get about doing that. Some of you are also criminals yourselves as well as extortionists and I am in the midst of preparing to report one of your kind to your bloody BASL.
It is your manipulation of the legal system that has taught the government how to do the same. It has always been your job to ensure that the law is implemented but have you done that? On the contrary you have come to worship the kind of cunning and hair splitting that subverts the law…like the infamous ‘how can a man hide behind a blade of paddy’? Shameless bunch of fools that has got us all into this mess.
/
jehan / April 25, 2014
I red many news itmes that The ruling family member, Sri Lanka’s Criminal Defense secretaty is operating BBS. This is an open secret. He let the terrorist group BBS took the law and order in their hand nand freely attacking like Made dogs. So only hope we have is to wait till God’s verdicts comes God save our mother land from this currupt rulers.
/
Ushan / July 6, 2014
I am a son of 2 lawyer parents and my grandfather was too. My self an academic in the law field. The way the Bar Association is responding to the pressing issues in Sri Lanka is disgusting and effeminate. There is so much injustice and even inhuman treatment far heinous than the so called recent “break down of law” in Sri Lanka. I remember going to a court visit at the Supreme Court with my mother. When proceedings were about to commence and the lawyers walked in adorned with the colonially introduced garb, people commented (quietly so they would not be in trouble), “here comes the wawulas” (i.e.Bats – rat like flying creatures). I think that is a very accurate description of the legal profession of Sri Lanka. Given the high rank of the profession, there should be a more responsible social conscience. However what can you expect from an organisation based on British Colonialism and has very little to do with Sri Lankan norms or rules. I believe that there should be a revamp of the legal system all together. I suggest that Buddhist clergy should have a position such as that in England where Clergy were given positioning in the House of Lords. Colonialism has weakened our society and the continuation of remnant institutions such as that representing the Bar Association are parasitic to emergence of our country as a respectable first world country.
/