BASL condemns assault on Attorney-at-Law

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) yesterday in a statement condemned the assault on the Attorney-at-Law who appeared for a suspect in the murder of two monks, at the Nugegoda Magistrate's Court premises.

The Association says every citizen of the country has the right to be represented by a lawyer of his choice for whatever crime he is supposed to have committed. The statement: The Bar Association of Sri Lanka has been informed that Attorney-at-Law Sumith Silva has been assaulted on March 23 just outside the Nugegoda Magistrate's Court premises. Sumith Silva has appeared for the first suspect in the murder case of the two Buddhist priests of the Raja Maha Viharaya, Kotte.

It is the right of every citizen of Sri Lanka to be represented by a lawyer of his choice for whatever crime he is supposed to have committed.

The lawyer too has a duty to represent any client who seeks his advice. We deplore this incident and the high-handed conduct and call upon the IGP to hold an impartial inquiry into the incident. We also urge him to bring the perpetrators of this crime before a court of law to be dealt with, without delay.