BASL to boycott courts today over Akuregoda lawyer killing

• The BASL further called on the police and public security authorities to immediately arrest all those responsible for the crime and initiate legal proceedings against them
• Approximately 3,500 lawyers participated in the General Assembly, the first such gathering in 14 years

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya  

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka has decided to abstain from court proceedings across the country today (16) following the recent shooting of a lawyer and his wife at Akuregoda.  

The decision was taken at a General Assembly meeting held in Colombo yesterday (15), where members convened to discuss the next course of action in response to the killings. Addressing the media after the meeting, BASL President Rajeev Amarasuriya said the General Assembly unanimously adopted four key resolutions.  

Accordingly, the Association resolved to urge the government to put an end to what it described as a prevailing culture of killings in the country and to ensure the safety of the public. 

It was also unanimously decided that all lawyers would refrain from engaging in professional activities in courts islandwide on Monday as a mark of protest.  

The BASL further called on the police and public security authorities to immediately arrest all those responsible for the crime and initiate legal proceedings against them. In addition, the Association expressed strong displeasure over the dissemination of unverified information by the police and other relevant parties, warning against presenting such information as factual.  

Amarasuriya said that approximately 3,500 lawyers participated in the General Assembly, the first such gathering in 14 years, with some members joining via Zoom due to space constraints.   

He said that the meeting extensively discussed the Akuregoda shooting and that the Association conveyed its deep concern and alarm over the killing of the lawyer and his wife.