Senior lawyer decries request to boycott court appearances

Senior lawyer Upali Senaratna commenting on the request made by the BASL Secretary through SMS requesting him to refrain from working for two days said, "as a senior attorney at law, I cannot accede to the request.''

He said he received the request made by SMS by the BASL Secretary requesting that he refrain from working on two days (January 10 and 11, 2013).

"In terms of the provisions of the Constitution of Sri Lanka and the Standing Orders of Parliament, the Report of the PSC has to be debated on the finding made on the issues of the impeachment," he said. "It is our duty as lawyers to study the PSC report in full before any action is taken as it is expected of lawyers. As lawyers, we have a bounden duty by our clients who require our services in Court, especially where the accused suspects who are in remand custody who have paid the professional fee to the lawyer to obtain his release from incarceration. Our professional duties demand that we appear to attend to the needs of our clients and if we don't we can be charged for negligent of duty by the Supreme Court and a Rule can be issued, Senaratna said.

"Most of the young lawyers are not aware of the risk involved if a litigant complains to the Supreme Court. These two days are not public holidays duly declared by the government. It is unfortunate that this issue is completely politicized to obfuscate the main issues of the PSC Report. The BASL is running a grave risk of being divided in to factions, if this type of ill founded request is made of the lawyers.