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BASL chief to bow out
Breaking away from the tradition of running for two terms, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) President Wijedasa Rajapakshe has decided to step down from his post and make way for the election of another member to the post.
Mr. Rajapakshe as incumbent president of the BASL – the policy making body comprising more than 11,000 lawyers in the country has decided not to continue for a second term, a practice followed by the past presidents. His first term ends in February. His decision has been confirmed by several officers in the legal fraternity. Senior attorney and President’s Counsel Geoff Alagaratnam has decided to contest for the post that will be vacant when Mr. Rajapakshe steps down.
“I decided to contest as it is important to maintain the independence and continuity of the BASL,” Mr. Alagaratnam told Daily Mirror.
He said he decided to contest since he had reliably come to know that Mr. Rajapakshe was not going to continue for the second term.
“I will not come forward if Mr. Rajapakshe is continuing,” Mr. Alagaratnam said.
In the wake of moves to impeach Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, almost all the members of the BASL launched a major protest. The BASL summoned two Special General Meetings – a rare occurrence --with all members participating and passed several crucial resolutions.
On November 10, the BASL unanimously passed eight resolutions and expressed grave concern over the impeachment motion against the Chief Justice and urged fair play. Later on December 15 at another Special General Meeting, the Association resolved unanimously to request President Mahinda Rajapaksa to reconsider the impeachment process against the CJ and agreed not to welcome a new CJ if appointed. Both Special General Meetings were held amid fiery verbal duels between those supporting and opposing the impeachment motion.
Four days after the crucial meeting, on December 19, shots were fired outside Mr. Rajapakshe’s residence He is also a United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian.
Meanwhile sequent to the passing of resolutions at the second meeting, BASL vice president Anoma Gunathilaka, resigned from her post claiming that the resolutions had been passed in an arbitrary manner.
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