The Bar Association of Sri Lanka has asked President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to instruct the armed forces to de- escalate the tense situation which is spreading across the country.

It mentions the situation in fuel stations in particular.

The BASL’s request to the President in a letter which they wrote to him earlier today warned of the consequences of a conflagration between the armed forces and civilians and how it has led to civilian deaths in the past.

The Criminal Procedure Code sets out the very limited situations in which the armed forces can be deployed and the BASL said it is of the view that it is not appropriate for service personnel to be deployed in the present manner in matters which essentially should be managed by the Sri Lanka Police.

The BASL told the President that thousands of desperate civilians are waiting in queues at hundreds of fuel stations in the country. ‘The queues are kilometres long. The tension at the fuel stations have arisen from this desperation for which there is no immediate solution in sight’.

It said the ultimate solution to the situation at fuel stations is to be transparent with the public and to ensure an equitable and effective system of fuel distribution throughout the country.

It also asked the President to ensure that steps are taken to deal with errant officers who have subjected civilians to violence.

Images of an army officer kicking a civilian at the Yaggapitiya fuel station in Kurunegala yesterday have made the public angry.

To read the full statement click on:Letter to HE on THE TENSE SITUATION AT FUEL STATIONS

 

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