UNP Lawyers Association to meet on May 7:

Ranil accused of violating NLA constitution

Dharma SRI ABEYRATNE

UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has violated the party’s National Lawyers Association constitution by convening meetings arbitrarily, National Lawyers Association (NLA) Chairman Upul Jayasuriya said. Jayasuriya addressing media yesterday in Colombo said UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has summoned a meeting of lawyers who are members of the National Lawyers Association. The National Lawyers Association constitution was drafted in 2009. According to it no one can summon meetings of the members without the knowledge of the Association.

However with the knowledge of the UNP Leadership, National Lawyers Association members have been summoned for meetings on several occasions.

As the party leader and as a member of the National Lawyers Association, the UNP leader is well-aware of the constitution of the Association, Jayasuriya added.

The National Lawyers Association held a general meeting recently to find out reasons of the defeats of the recently held two elections. The UNP has lost 20 consecutive elections. During the meeting several members pointed out that the party leadership has to be changed.

The ‘National Lawyers Association will meet on May 7 aiming to ascertain the reasons behind the present situation of the UNP” Jayasuriya said.

The Secretary of the National Lawyers Association Gunarathna Weerakoon and Deputy Secretary Laksman Galhene were also present.