BASL urges President to remove Minister Alles

29 April 2024 03:16 pm - 37 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Colombo, April 29 (Daily Mirror) - The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has expressed serious concern over recent remarks made by Minister Tiran Alles, and urging President Ranil Wickremesinghe to remove him from the portfolio of Public Security.

During its council meeting, the BASL condemned Minister Alles's statement at the passing out parade of the Katukurunda STF training camp, where he stated, "Eliminating criminals from the country is not a sin. Don't be afraid to use the weapon in your hand for the right thing, and we stand by you."

In response, BASL President Kaushalya Navaratne and Secretary Chathura A. Galhena expressed grave concern, noting that such remarks contradict fundamental principles enshrined in the Constitution and established criminal justice procedures.

The BASL emphasized that justice, including penalties for wrongdoers, falls exclusively within the courts' jurisdiction as mandated by the Constitution, requiring adherence to due process, thorough investigations and fair trials.

The Minister's statement, amidst rising extrajudicial killings, custodial deaths and incidents of torture, perpetuates the misconception that justice lies beyond the judiciary's purview and can be administered arbitrarily, undermining public trust and misguiding law enforcement personnel.

Calling for an immediate retraction of the Minister's statement and his removal from office, the BASL asserts that Minister Alles's repeated encouragement of impunity and disregard for the rule of law renders him unfit for his role in public security.

Furthermore, the BASL reaffirms the sacrosanct principle that the authority to mete out punishment must remain vested solely in the courts, operating within the bounds of established legal procedures.

Additionally, the BASL reiterates the fundamental right of every individual accused of an offense to undergo a fair and diligent investigation and to receive a fair trial, as guaranteed by the law and international conventions adhered to by any civilized legal system.

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Comments - 37

ROHAN Monday, 29 April 2024 03:26 PM

I stand by with his statement because BASL thinking only about their revenue for appearing their cases. also it seems criminals wont get their due punishment from courts too due to lawyers manipulations. so we have to work out the best solution what minister says.

Dr. K.W. Bandaranayake Monday, 29 April 2024 04:08 PM

Tissa Kutty SLPP MP misbehaved in the Hiru Studio very badly as he knows as he will be protected by Mahinda or Ranil. So where your law will stand.

Pathmaranjan Perera Monday, 29 April 2024 04:09 PM

Excellent move by BASL.

Fool Monday, 29 April 2024 07:01 PM

Majority of average citizens in SL are with the minister. Down with BASL.

Crude Bunch Monday, 29 April 2024 07:03 PM

BASL is on par with GMOA. They think only about their pockets.

D.N.J. Fernando [attorney-at-law] Monday, 29 April 2024 04:11 PM

Alles don't try to use your power against BASL they will fix you in a corner where you could even move around. Be careful..

Yeti Monday, 29 April 2024 07:24 PM

Bring a law to expose earnings of all the lawyers. All the people know how the big talkers hide their income in order to dodge the taxes. So much for talking about human rights.

Suffering SriLankan Monday, 29 April 2024 04:20 PM

BASL is badly mistaken as you are requesting head of the gangsters to remove a gang member. These thugs are here to suffocate us by force….we only can remove the entire thug lot by wisely voting them out….

True grit Monday, 29 April 2024 07:11 PM

Drug money talking.

Tissa Fernando Monday, 29 April 2024 04:26 PM

These lawyers make a ton of tax free money for representing these criminals. They are afraid to loose their business. They never talk for the victims who cannot spend their fees. Many of 225 are lawyers and wherever they go they make everything advantageous for them

Bandu Tuesday, 30 April 2024 03:12 AM

Sad - defending the indefensible without actual facts..

Roger Halliday Monday, 29 April 2024 04:30 PM

I guess he is not aware that he made a statement as stated by the legal fraternity. If with a big if. If he has said so will the sitting president remove him????? I guess we all know the end result.

Out On Mission Monday, 29 April 2024 04:40 PM

Don’t waste time as nothing will happen. It’s obvious there is authoritarian rule and people’s view are often suppressed. He’s out on a mission to please his masters and wants to ensure the task is carried out and crime rates fall before elections.

Wombat Monday, 29 April 2024 07:08 PM

If you call it a authoritarian rule, we welcome it as there is a section of people in this society, hell bent on destroying this country to grab power. Crush them.

Politicians are the Issue Tuesday, 30 April 2024 02:45 PM

@Wombat - if there are people out to destroy the country, yes they should be eliminated. But majority are feed up the way most politicians who have been in power for a few terms have not brought up the living standards of the average person. Most are incompetent, enjoying the perks and looking out when’s the next beneficial corruption target will be.

Master Always Needs Him Around Monday, 29 April 2024 04:49 PM

Crazy suggestion. Ranil needs this particular errand boy to be around so as to ensure his safety and the security apparatus is always on standby to take instructions at any time of the day. Without him, he can’t sleep and think well.

Hood Monday, 29 April 2024 07:18 PM

Your comment reflects your political masters strategies. Grow up.

We Only Get Affected When It Happens To Us Tuesday, 30 April 2024 03:03 PM

@Hood - you don’t need to be a party activist to use common sense! if an Innocent person is shot by a trigger happy officer, who’s answerable? We only react when it happens to us or to a family member. That’s why it’s paramount the rule of law is followed and that’s why there are courts to provide such judgments and not the minister. If not, abolish the courts and dismantle the judiciary.

Pat Nama Monday, 29 April 2024 04:51 PM

He is just what HE wants. Crush dissent.

Gonpala Muhandiram Monday, 29 April 2024 05:09 PM

Mr Pina will never sack anyone!

Charioteer Tuesday, 30 April 2024 11:33 AM

Mr. Gonpala - your name suites you,

Christo255 Monday, 29 April 2024 05:15 PM

Minister is right. Lawyer kaputas will not be able to earn undeclared millions representing drug kingpins if they are eliminated for the betterment of the society.

Sunil Monday, 29 April 2024 06:22 PM

A long due case....

Karalasingam Monday, 29 April 2024 06:53 PM

RW gave the ministerial positions to all useless, corrupt cronies of MR clan. People suffered immensely under these criminals, including many deaths under Kehaliya R. People should wake up sooner

Voter Tuesday, 30 April 2024 11:12 AM

RW has continued with the cabinet Gota had appointed. He had to get the support from the parliament to save the country from economic disaster

SSZ Monday, 29 April 2024 08:13 PM

Fight for a new system based on democratic values

Dee Monday, 29 April 2024 08:17 PM

Oh yes. Start practicing in Madagascar! Good money from all the drug lords. Tax free as well!

montessori Monday, 29 April 2024 08:55 PM

Put him back to school to start up from Montessori before he destroys himself.

CURIOUS Monday, 29 April 2024 09:38 PM

WELL SAID BASL, BUT LET US SEE WHAT THE PRESIDENT'S RESPONSE IS.

Sri Wickrema Monday, 29 April 2024 09:39 PM

Comments made by some readers would suggest no legal system is required here and the Police can eliminate anyone who is alleged to be a criminal. O tempora O mores!

M Fernando Monday, 29 April 2024 10:11 PM

Forget "democracy" and "rule-of-law". It's always good for a country to have a Security/Interior Minister and President who is willing to bend the rules a little and indulge in a bit of mysterious "deaths-in-custody", torture, and bending of law, in order to keep the population in check and not allow them to get too unruly. So what if once in a while, a few innocents get caught up in the process... Big Deal ! It's for the greater good so no real harm done. Ranil in his wisdom, understands this. We are emulating our Western friends in this. ... I wonder whether we have mastered the art of waterboarding yet ? Or is it still stress-positions only ?

Helan Monday, 29 April 2024 11:49 PM

Keep him and I support Minister Alles 100%. BASL is not an association that the public (in this particular instance) supports. We are much more concerned with the rising crime and drug rate, we are concerned for ours and our families well being and future more so than BASL's concerns which is a self serving concern.

Patcitz Tuesday, 30 April 2024 01:23 AM

Most of the BASL members are invovled in Nacortic Drug Deal, therefore, they are reluctant the actions of Minister Tiran's valuable attempt of wiping out those Underworld Gangs dealing Nacortics,

Citizens for justice Tuesday, 30 April 2024 02:51 AM

After the election we hope to see all these criminals brought to justice. Victory to NPP

warren Tuesday, 30 April 2024 06:10 AM

We urge the President of the BASL to take action against the lawyers who clapped, applauded and lauded the culprits who killed and assaulted MPs, burned down houses and damaged public property in 2022. Please walk the talk.

Do Perera Tuesday, 30 April 2024 09:24 AM

In order to change the whole system the we need a regime change. That will happen soon.

Jeanne Tuesday, 30 April 2024 11:19 AM

Keep dreaming.

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BASL urges President to remove Minister Alles

Comments - 37

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