Induction of BASL President

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka will hold its 36th Annual Convocation at 6 p.m. today at Kings Court, Hotel Cinnamon Lakeside (formerly Trans Asia Hotel) Colombo at which President's Counsel Shibly Aziz will be inducted as the President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka for 2010/2011.

Chief Justice J. A. N. de Silva will be the Chief Guest at the event. Justice A. P. Shah, Retired Chief Justice of Delhi High Court, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu will be the Guest of Honour.

This is a very rare instance of a legal luminary from overseas invited to participate and deliver the keynote address at the BASL Convocation. Justice A. P. Shah who combines legal acumen with judicial activism and intrepid courage has delivered several landmark judgments which earned him the ire of both the Central and State Governments and the fanatical organizations such as Shiv Sena and the BJP.

However such qualities endeared him to the marginalized and impoverished masses and to the liberal and progressive sections of the entire country.

It may have been for the very same reason that the powers that be have ensured that Justice Shah is denied promotion to the Supreme Court which is the apex Court of India.

Attorney General Mohan Peiris, President's Counsel as the leader of the bar and Justice Minister Milinda Moragoda be the Guests of Honour. Judges of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and the Original Courts will also be Honoured Guests.