BASL urges SLMC and GMOA to conduct autopsies
By Niranjala Ariyawansha & Skandha Gunasekara-June 29, 2014
The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has, urged the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) and the Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) to take steps to examine and conduct autopsies on the bodies of the two who were killed during the clashes at Aluthgama and Dharga Town.
BASL President, Upul Jayasuriya speaking to Ceylon Today, said the postmortem reports of two bodies were contradictory to the evidence found surrounding their deaths.
"Postmortem reports say the victims died of cut injuries, however, evidence shows that the victims were killed due to gun-shot injuries," Jayasuriya pointed out.
This is with regard to the deaths of two Muslims, Mohamed Shiraz (33) and Mohomad Zahran (34), who were killed during the incidents at Aluthgama and Dharga Town. He said evidence pointed to gun-shot wounds.
Jayasuriya said the BASL has urged the SLMC and the GMOA to take steps to conduct autopsies on the bodies in order to determine what the actual cause of their deaths were.
"We urge the Sri Lanka Medical Council to file an application through Court and conduct a proper investigation, along with autopsies, to determine the truth behind this incident."
"Even after the Kalutara Acting Magistrate had recommended and approved the application to prohibit the rally, some higher authority had requested the police to allow the rally to take place."
He said the BASL condemns the lack of initiative and just action by the Police.
Jayasuriya also said the BASL hoped the Attorney General, even at this late stage, would take steps to apprehend those responsible for the criminal disharmony that caused carnage in Aluthgama and Dharga Town.
June 29, 2014
By Niranjala Ariyawansha & Skandha Gunasekara-June 29, 2014 The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has, urged the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) and the Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) to take steps to examine and conduct autopsies on the bodies of the two who were killed during the clashes at Aluthgama and Dharga Town.
BASL President, Upul Jayasuriya speaking to Ceylon Today, said the postmortem reports of two bodies were contradictory to the evidence found surrounding their deaths.
"Postmortem reports say the victims died of cut injuries, however, evidence shows that the victims were killed due to gun-shot injuries," Jayasuriya pointed out.
This is with regard to the deaths of two Muslims, Mohamed Shiraz (33) and Mohomad Zahran (34), who were killed during the incidents at Aluthgama and Dharga Town. He said evidence pointed to gun-shot wounds.
Jayasuriya said the BASL has urged the SLMC and the GMOA to take steps to conduct autopsies on the bodies in order to determine what the actual cause of their deaths were.
"We urge the Sri Lanka Medical Council to file an application through Court and conduct a proper investigation, along with autopsies, to determine the truth behind this incident."
"Even after the Kalutara Acting Magistrate had recommended and approved the application to prohibit the rally, some higher authority had requested the police to allow the rally to take place."
He said the BASL condemns the lack of initiative and just action by the Police.
Jayasuriya also said the BASL hoped the Attorney General, even at this late stage, would take steps to apprehend those responsible for the criminal disharmony that caused carnage in Aluthgama and Dharga Town.
“Bring The Aluthgama Perpetrators To Justice” Bar Association Unanimously Tells Government
June 29, 2014
At the 4th Bar Council meeting of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka held on 28th June 2014, the Bar Council unanimously resolved that its President issues a statement condemning the inaction of the authorities and the Police in apprehending those who were responsible for making inflammatory statements causing communal and religious disharmony among communities resulting in the carnage that took place in Beruwelacommencing on the 15th of June 2014. Further to the unanimous decision of the Bar Council, the President BASL, Upul Jayasuriya has issued the following statement.
Upul Jayasuriya -BASL President
The Bar Association notes with regret that despite it’s appeal to the Hon. The Attorney General dated 20th of May 2014 and a further appeal dated 4th of June 2014 no meaningful steps were taken as provided for under Section 393(1)(b) and Section 6 of the Code of Criminal Procedure in the exercise of powers and duties vested in the country’s AG. In the said letters the BASL has specifically urged that steps be taken to prosecute those who are responsible for the commission of offences under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and the Penal code.
Further to this the Executive Committee of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka resolved and issued a further statement on the 12th of June 2014 condemning actions of the said Organization, namely Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), in respect of three instances of blatant violations of the law calling upon the relevant authorities to conduct full and unbiased investigations into the alleged incidents expeditiously and to take relevant steps according to law including commencing prosecutions as maybe required by law. It is further regretted that the authorities took no meaningful steps even after the timely pleas that were made by the BASL.
In the given circumstances a further meeting was called for by the said organization on the 15th of June 2014 making outrageous statements causing religious disharmony between communities in violation of the PTA. If timely action were taken in deference to the pleas of the legal profession represented by the BASL, the carnage that followed with deaths and damage to property and religious institutions would have been averted.
The BASL reiterates and urges the authorities take meaningful steps even at this late stage in bringing the perpetrators who stimulated the carnage that took place in Beruwela, Dharga Town and Aluthgama to Justice, immediately demonstrating that the rule of law is preserved in this country preventing a further backlash nationally and internationally.
