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Last Updated : 2024-04-29 06:36:00
3 February 2024 08:12 am - 13 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Lawyers’ Collective, in an open letter to Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles yesterday said the Yukthiya Anti-drug Campaign must conform to the rule of law and should not be a passionate, personal initiative that seeks implementation outside the law.
The collective said it would have been best if the campaign had been commenced when the Minister took office rather than in the election year of 2024. The letter is as follows; We are writing this letter to you as members of the Lawyers Collective. we will send copies to the President and Prime Minister and will place the letter in the public domain. we are doing so because we consider the manner in which you are exercising your powers in the “Yukthiya” anti-Drug Campaign, a matter of grave public concern.
Citizens of the country will endorse your decision to conduct a campaign to address the drug problem and try to eliminate its adverse impact on their lives.the manner in which you are conducting this campaign and making public statements on the media indicates the following:
1) that you will consider any laws that you think restrict your authority as “obstacles” that you have every right to disregard.
2) that you consider all who comment or criticize the manner in which the campaign is conducted to be drug dealers and drug addicts.
You have chosen to target in particular, lawyers who do so. You have repeatedly referred to them in this manner, despite a statement from the Bar Association of Sri Lanka objecting to this vicious attack on the legal profession.
3) You have also repeatedly stated on national TV networks that you will disregard any cautions on adhering to norms and standards of international law that apply to the State of Sri Lanka.
You have stated that you will disregard them as “foreign and outside influences,” and that you are not bound to conduct the campaign with respect for international law and the views of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
4) You have also publicly stated repeatedly that you appointed Deshabandu Tennekoon as the Acting IGP because he was the best police officer to effectively conduct this Yukthiya Campaign.
We wish to point out that each of these statements indicates that you have no regard for the office of a Minister with a sense of responsibility, and as a public trust, according to the laws and Constitution of our country.
Your statements which amount to a rejection of international law show a surprising ignorance of the obligations of the State of Sri Lanka and its Government under ratified international human rights treaties.
Also, you personally cannot have any role in the appointment of an IGP. This is a matter for the President and the Constitutional Council. Besides, the Supreme Court has found Deshabandu Tennekoon personally responsible for acts of torture.
On behalf of the Lawyers’ Collective, President’s Counsel Rienzie Arsecularatne undersigned to the letter with Professor Savitri Goonesekere, Attorney-at-law and former Vice Chancellor of University of Colombo, Upul Jayasuriya, President’s Counsel and former President – BASL, Dr. Jayampathy Wickramaratne, President’s Counsel, Geoffrey Alagaratnam, President’s Counsel and former President – BASL, Dinal Phillips, President’s Counsel, Saliya Pieris, President’s Counsel, Former President – BASL, S. T. Jayanaga, President’s Counsel, Upul Kumarapperuma, President’s Counsel, Professor Deepika Udagama, former Chairperson – HRCSL, Professor Camena Gunaratne, Harshana Nanayakkara, attorney at-law, Srinath Perera,attorney-at-law, Ermiza Tegal,attorney-at-law and Manoj Nanayakkara, attorney at-law.
Natalie Nanayaka Saturday, 03 February 2024 08:48 AM
It should be used only on the undesirable people who oppose the government.
Sivalingam Saturday, 03 February 2024 09:02 AM
Collective in support of drug dealers.
Kabir Hashim Saturday, 03 February 2024 09:04 AM
Many in this collective should declare their true income from drug dealers and pay taxes.
Tissa Fernando Saturday, 03 February 2024 09:13 AM
Harak kata is inpatient to get th8s operation stopped.
Kandiah Balendran Saturday, 03 February 2024 09:17 AM
Attorney at LOW, as low as it gets. Genuine citizens support the Yukthiya operation.
Raven Saturday, 03 February 2024 09:18 AM
Keep up the excellent operation without reducing steam, minister. The Mahanayakes and the public are with you. It's hilarious how they say the time is wrong for the minister to go into action. They'll probably tell you which shirt to wear when you do that too, hahaha.
Sapumal Saturday, 03 February 2024 09:31 AM
Well done, Lawyers Collective. We are truly honoured by all of you. That letter contains nothing that we cannot agree upon. I have no doubt that you will receive agreement from all law-abiding citizens of our nation. There is no other option except to take Tiran Alles to the Supreme Court if he is attempting to violate both international law and human rights.
Sokrates Saturday, 03 February 2024 09:44 AM
A very good letter that gets straight to the point. However, this approach is far too soft, which is due to the fact that lawyers have to be diplomatic and cannot say everything they might want in order not to make themselves vulnerable. But I can say it. Alles is a criminal power-hungry rich upstart who uses Operation Yukthiya to continue his dirty dealings and protect high-ranking political drug lords along with his friend in crime, convicted torturer Tennakoon. Another purpose is that the two criminal friends want to make themselves irreplaceable, especially in an election year, in order to protect their own official positions from which, if things were to go according to law in Sri Lanka, they would have long since been removed.
Dee Saturday, 03 February 2024 10:03 AM
The volumes are down these days so are the income potential. No wonder the operation is being opposed. Anyway the collective shout be ready to make frequent visits to Madagascar, Dubai etc.
KEEP ON KEEPING ON Saturday, 03 February 2024 10:47 AM
Excellent letter well said P.C. Rienzie and ALL others on behalf of Lawyer's Collective. Unfortunately, some who have commented have obviously NOT got the essence of the letter. Keep up the good work and fight for the rights of the MASSES who have NO VOICE and to those who run down LAWYERS I say " just because some of you have come across a few bad eggs, doesn't mean to say you judge ALL those in the legal profession in a similar manner. We have some of the best legal professionals who work with integrity to the rule of law.
Mahinda Karawita Saturday, 03 February 2024 12:30 PM
This operation is a political drama.
Patcitz Sunday, 04 February 2024 12:03 AM
It is evidenced that the lawyer's collective body operates under DRUGISTS FINANCE.
Quolp Sunday, 04 February 2024 12:08 AM
Yeah, many crooks and rogue lawyers' income was hampered after the minister's initiatives toward wiping out the Underworld cum Narcotic Drug dealers.
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