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Prof. G. L. Peiris should know that self-defence is a well-known right both under the Lankan Penal Code and under international law, says President's Counsel M. M. Zuhair.

Referring to a statement made by Prof. Peiris that the President has called for "an eye for an eye" at a meeting in Tissamaharama, Zuhair says that under Section 93 of the Penal Code the right of private defence, better known as self-defence, extends even to the causing of death when the victim apprehends death or grievous hurt at the hands of an assailant.

"He knows that under Section 93 of the Penal Code the right of self-defence extends to causing death even in the defence of one's property, in such circumstances as robbery, house-breaking by night, mischief by fire," he said in a statement.

He said Prof. Peiris himself has written a chapter on self-defence in his book `General Principles of Criminal Liability in Sri Lanka'.

"What is beyond my comprehension is how a professor of standing could forget or ignore basic legal principles unless bitten by power hunger, to attempt to vilify the President whose statement at Tissamaharama is a rightful expression of the legitimate right of anyone to defend and protect one's life when anyone tries to kill him," he added.

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