In a letter to the IGP, Chandana Wickremaratne, the BASL has urged him to take action to ensure President’s Counsel Saliya Pieris’s professional duties as an attorney-at-law.
The BASL has sent this letter with reference to an organized protest outside the headquarters of Saliya Pieris yesterday. The said protest related to Pieris conducting his professional duties with regard to Nadun Chinthaka Wickramaratne, alias “Harak Kata”. The BASL is of the view that the said protest seriously hinders his right to represent a client, a professional right that has been safeguarded by law.
In the case of Wijesundara Mudiyanselage Naveen Nayantha Bandara v. Siriwardena and others, the Supreme Court observed that there is no dispute that the legal profession is a sine qua non (an essential condition) for the administration of the country and, for that matter, in any civilized society.
Section 41 of the Judicature Act, which has clearly set out the right of representation and further shed light on the above mechanism established for implementing the administration of justice in the country, was also mentioned in the BASL statement.
The BASL strongly demands that the IGP take action to ensure that Saliya Pieris’s professional duties as an attorney-at-law are not hindered and to ensure his safety.
This statement was issued under the signatures of BASL Deputy President Anura Meddegoda PC and BASL Secretary Isuru Balapatabendi.
