Mangala’s statement in Parliament:

SLFP Lawyers hold massive demo

Sarath Malalasekera

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Lawyers Association yesterday held a mammoth demonstration to condemn the statement made by Managala Samaraweera MP in Parliament recently criticising the country’s Judiciary. The demonstration commenced near the Lawyers’ complex in Hulftsdorp and proceeded upto the BASL Head office in Hulftsdorp. Speaking to the Daily News Consumer Affairs Council Chairman, Senior Attorney Upali Senaratne, who participated in the demonstration, said the country has utmost confidence in the Judiciary for its robust independence and fearless integrity.

The demonstration was led by Senior Lawyers including President’s Counsel D.P. Mendis, Upali Senaratne, ANCL Legal Director Rasanga Harischandra, Sumith Parakrama, Champani Padmasekera, Ananda Gunatilleke, Chandima Weerakkody, Harigupta Mendis, Palitha Gamage and several other members of the SLFP Lawyers Association. They were joined by Justice and Law Reform Minister Athauda Seneviratne and Public Administration Minister W.D.J. Seneviratne.

Senior Attorney Senaratne stated, today the Judiciary is headed by the most respected Chief Justice J. Asoka de Silva who has been in the Attorney General’s Department and rose to this highest position after being in the Supreme Court as a Judge for a long period.

The country knows the calibre of the member who made this statement merely for consumption of the NGOs in Sri Lanka and abroad. This type of stupid and preposterous statements are made to ruin the image of the country abroad, Senaratne said.

He emphasised that our Judiciary has gained international acclaim as uncorrupted, independent and impartial.

Mangala Samaraweera’s conduct is well known as a politician who make these statements with malice in order to tarnish the image of the President who stamped out terrorism in the country. We all today are in a position to walk about freely without fear of being bombed and killed because of this Government headed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, he added.

Mahinda Rajapaksa who was a practising Senior criminal lawyer, we all know his highest respect for the judiciary and he would never allow during his tenure of office to diminish the glory of judiciary, Senaratne said.

Mangala Samarweera’s statements in the past were responsible in our losing GSP Plus benefits and now he strives to destroy our economy further by making this kind of irresponsible statements. The Sri Lankans must discard this type of politicians, Senaratna concluded.