The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has welcomed the appointment, of Acting Solicitor General Sanjay Rajaratnam PC as the new Attorney-General.
Issuing a statement, the BASL Executive Committee has commended President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the Parliamentary Council for giving due consideration to the vital criteria when appointing the Attorney General on the first occasion such an appointment was made after the enactment of the 20th amendment of the constitution.
The BASL Executive Committee has appreciated this appointment since MrRajaratnam is the most senior officer in the Attorney General’s Department presently eligible for this appointment, having served the Department since 1988.
Whilst congratulating the new Attorney General, the BASL said “ we have the confidence that he will exercise his duties impartially and maintain the independence of the Office. We look to him to uphold the Rule of Law, the Independence of the judiciary and the fundamental human rights of the people”,
Meanwhile, the BASL also thanked the outgoing Attorney General, Dappula de LiveraPC, for his services to the Department and for the cooperation he extended to the BASL.
A statement issued by the BASL in October 2014 on the appointment of the Attorney-General states:
“The high office of the Attorney-General is of vital significance to the Citizens of our Country since the Attorney-General, as the Chief Legal Adviser of the State, has the duty of advising the Government on what is lawful or unlawful and the duty of ensuring that the law is applied, without fear or favour, concerning criminal prosecutions.
Thus, a person who is appointed to the Office of Attorney-General must be manifestly able to function independently and impartially and to ensure that the law is applied, without political or other considerations.
The Bar Association of Sri Lanka on behalf of the legal fraternity of Sri Lanka expects that these vital criteria will be satisfied when the next appointment is made and that due consideration will be given to merit and seniority of service in the Attorney-General’s Department.”
Acting Solicitor General Sanjay Rajaratnam, P.C who took oaths before the President, will assume duties as the 48th Attorney General of Sri Lanka.
