The Need Of The Hour; Raise Our Voice Against Militarization And Lawlessness
Upul Jayasuriya -BASL President
Bar Association of Sri Lanka is a body completely apolitical. We respect the rule of law, independence of Judiciary and other democratic values. We have consistently opposed the gazette vesting Police powers on the Army, Navy and the Air Force on a continuing basis applicable for the entire country. We have moved resolutions at the Executive Committee of the BASL and the Bar Council and issued press releases. Other professional bodies too have condemned it. All our efforts have fallen on deaf years. In this back drop we decided to call this public Forum to place the issue before you. Rule of Law is defined as the restriction of the arbitrary exercise of power by subordinating it to well defined and established laws. It is the principle that all people and institutions are subject to and accountable to law that is fairly applied and enforced.
Aristotle flatly opposed letting the highest officials wield power beyond guarding and serving the laws. In other words, Aristotle advocated the rule of law.
The World Justice Project has proposed a working definition of the rule of law that comprises four principles:
- A system of self-government in which all persons, including the government, are accountable under the law.
- A system based on fair, publicized, broadly understood and stable laws
- A fair, robust, and accessible legal process in which rights and responsibilities based in law are evenly enforced.
- Diverse, competent, and independent lawyers and judges
The judiciary is the last bastion to a person who has been subject to injustice. It is in such a backdrop that it becomes an imperative concept in giving effect to Rule by Law as opposed to Rule by Men.Read More
