HRCSL seeks corrective action from BASL

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) said yesterday members of a few regional Bar Associations had been discriminative in rendering their services to the Muslim community and sought corrective action. HRCSL Chairperson Dr. N.D. Udugama made this request in writing to Bar Association Chairman Kalinga Indatissa.

“The attention of HRCSL has been drawn to the refusal of certain regional Bar Associations (i.e. Mawanella and Badulla) to appear on behalf of Muslims arrested in connection with post-april 21 attacks. As a result, family members of those arrested have been compelled to obtain legal services from other regions thus encountering inconvenience and financial constraints,” she said.

It was also observed that members attached to the Nikaweratiya Bar had protested when police requested court not to grant bail to those arrested on suspicion of participating in communal violence perpetrated on May 13 in some parts of the country.

“You would agree that such positions taken by

This is a serious situation which questions the core values of our legal profession. Hence, we request you in earnest to look into this matter and take urgent corrective measures

erudite members of the legal profession are at variance with the expected standards of ethical and honourable conduct of legal practitioners who are engaged in a profession based on liberal values. Such discriminatory conduct, you would agree, denies to some of our fellow citizens the possibility of enjoying equal protection of the law under the Constitution. This is a serious situation which questions the core values of our legal profession. Hence, we request you in earnest to look into this matter and take urgent corrective measures. We would be appreciative if you would share with the action taken by BASL in this regard,” she wrote to the Bar Association Chairman.