BASL Will Not Welcome A New CJ – ‘Give Justice To Our Chief Justice’
“The Bar Association of Sri Lanka today unanimously adopted the resolution; President to reconsider the impeachment, in the light of his recent statement on the report -If the parliament proceeds with it, then to enact a procedural law, guaranteeing Rules of Natural Justice – If the CJ is removed without following Rule of Law and Natural justice, then the Bar would not welcome the new appointee” says Lawyers Collective.
According to the Lawyers Collective Update of Today’s meeting of the BASL as follows;
According to the Lawyers Collective Update of Today’s meeting of the BASL as follows;
1. Bar Association of Sri Lanka held general meeting of the Bar with the largest ever attendance. Approximately 3000 lawyers representing all Branches attended the meeting. As expected, the Government had done their work to get down their crowd but it finally was around 250-300 lawyers, mainly who are holding political positions (ex. parliamentarians, Provincial Counselors) and directors of public corporations (government appointees) were there.
2. The President of BASL formulated the resolution based on the two sets of resolutions that have been received. He presented it to the House. In summery the resolutions had three items:
(a) President to reconsider the impeachment, in the light of his recent statement on the report.
(b) If the parliament proceeds with it, then to enact a procedural law, guaranteeing Rules of Natural Justice
(c) If the CJ is removed without following Rule of Law and Natural justice, then the Bar would not welcome the new appointee
3. About 20 lawyers spoke, 18 of whom were in favour of the resolution and among those who supported the resolutions were well known lawyers from the President’s own party. Some felt the resolutions were too mild while others felt it was strong. However, the President was moving towards a unanimity. The message from all the speakers was to have unanimity rather than a division so that the Executive would know how the legal fraternity feel about the impeachment. Message on the floor was “give justice to our chief justice“.
4. After about 90 minutes of the debate, the Chairman move the resolution and asked whether the House agreed to adopt it unanimously. No member (not even from the Government group) moved for a division or a secret ballot. Arrangements had been made to have a secret ballot. The House unanimously adopted the resolution (three resolutions as one single resolution).
5. Thereafter the meeting concluded and the lawyers started moving out. A section of the Government lawyers (known group of lawyers who are holding positions in the government) then tried to create a scene (obviously for political reasons with a TV coverage to undermine the unanimous decision) but dispersed peacefully.
“In our view, these resolutions are extremely far reaching and does not prevent any further actions at a later stage. Had there been a voting, the division would have been about 2700 to 250 (for and against respectively). Undoubtedly, what ever the Government’s propaganda says, the Bar is unanimously against the Impeachment of CJ.” says the Lawyers Collective.
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