Series of organised protest against Saliya Pieris PC: BASL urges authorities to ensure his safety

• These protests were organised relating to Saliya Pieris conducting his  professional duties with regard to Nadun Chinthaka Wickramaratne alias  “Harak Kata”

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda   

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has strongly demanded the authorities to take necessary arrangements to ensure former BASL President Saliya Pieris’ professional duties as an Attorney-at-Law and his safety.  
Issuing a statement regarding a series of organised protests in Colombo in relation to Saliya Pieris PC, the BASL observed that said protest not only seriously hinders his right to represent a client, a professional right which has been safeguarded by law, but also an attack on the profession at large.   These protests were organised relating to Saliya Pieris conducting his professional duties with regard to Nadun Chinthaka Wickramaratne alias “Harak Kata”.   

Section 41 of the Judicature Act which has clearly set out the right of representation and further shed light on the above mechanism established for implementing the administration of justice in the country, the BASL statement added.  

Our constitution specifically guarantees the right to legal representation in Article 13(3), which states that every person has the right to a fair trial and the right to be represented by a lawyer of their choice.  

In addition, the Code of Criminal Procedure provides for the right to legal representation in criminal cases. Section 260 of the Code states that an accused person has the right to be represented by an Attorney-at-law, and every aggrieved party shall have the right to be represented in Court by an Attorney-at-law, the BASL statement further added.  

This statement had been issued by newly elected BASL President Kaushalya Nawaratne and its Secretary Isuru Balapatabendi.