Lawyers Collective condemns move to intimidate the President of the BASL and calls for an impartial investigation

Mr. Upul Jayasuriya, the President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka has been followed by an unidentified group (a motor bicycle and a three wheeler)  today (15th July 2014) for  hours. Mr Jayasuriya has been a strong leader of the Bar who has spoken strongly and fearlessly against the breach of Rule of Law, abuse of constitutional norms and erosion of democracy in Sri Lanka.  Mr. Jayasuriya has made a formal complaint at the Kurunduwatta Police station (Colombo 7)  around 5.00 p.m. today,  in this regard.

Sri Lanka: Unidentified motorcyclists follow Bar Association President's vehicle

President of the Sri Lanka Bar Association Upul Jayasuriya has lodged a complain at the cinnamon garden police saying a group of unindentified people who came in two motorcycles and a three wheeler followed his vehicle today. Jayasuriya has told the Cinnamon Garden police that the incident posed a threat to his personal security. A spokesperson from the police department told Asian Mirror that they were investigating into the incident.

Sri Lanka mass grave unearths ghosts from troubled past

Reuters/Reuters - A police officer covers part of a dead body at a building site in Matale, a central town 142 km (88 miles) from the capital, Colombo, December 16, 2012. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte

Shihar Aneez | Reuters 

MATALE, Sri Lanka (Reuters) - A mass grave unearthed in Sri Lanka has stirred memories of the country's bloody insurgencies and sparked calls for an official inquiry in the island nation that has drawn global scrutiny for its chequered human rights record.

Skeletons of the past… Editorial , Ceylon Today

The trail of dead bodies might lead to anywhere or nowhere. Speculations are endemic that they might lead to either the ‘71 April insurrection or ’87 - ’89 terror era. Wherever they may lead, let’s hope not too many more corpses or their remains would be found.
What was discovered at the Matale Hospital premises tells a very horrific story. And the counting is not done, as yet. Mass graves, in the past, have left some morbid and stubborn impressions in the minds of the global community. They are not a total surprise to Sri Lanka either, the Guardian-State of Buddhism- the ultimate religion on ‘ahimsa’, non-violence.

Widespread protests bring judicial system to standstill

Lawyers protest

The work on High Court, District Courts and the Magistrate Courts throughout the island came to a standstill yesterday due to the protest carried out by the judges against the assault carried out on Judicial Service Commission Secretary Manjula Tilakaratn by unidentified persons at Mount Lavinia on Sunday.
Lawyers throughout the country kept away from courts and took to the streets against the assault on Judicial Service Commission Secretary Manjula Tilakaratne. They burnt a coffin signifying the death of the independent Judiciary in the country. They contended that the Judiciary in the country had died a natural death with increased interference by the Executive.