July 27, 2013, 12:00 pm

BY MAHEEN SENANAYAKE

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka at a Bar Council meeting held yesterday noted with concern the alarming increase of criminal activity by those blessed with political patronage.

The council unanimously agreed to ask all its branch associations to appear free of charge on behalf of the victims.

According to BASL President Upul Jayasuriya, "the council discussed with grave concern that instances exist of judicial officers also having being brought under pressure by politically blessed individuals."

He also said that the council had noted " the congratulatory note by the the lawyers’ committee of the Organization of Professional Association extended to Puttalam Magistrate Ranga Dassanayake, on the re-remanding of the provincial councilor who had repeatedly threated witnesses violating bail conditions."

Jayasuriya also noted that the council has noted the variance of bail conditions on the ordinary man and the politically blessed by certain judges. "On the one hand politically blessed individuals are free to even leave the country when the ordinary man is made to surrender his travel documents", he said citing an example.

Most importantly the council urged the Bar Association’s branches to appear free for the aggrieved parties in instances of victimization by politically backed individuals and urged the public to seek assistance form the BASL directly if warranted as they are willing to assist the public through the BASL’s public litigation committee as was the case in the matter of the Matale mass grave."Given the amendments to the constitution of the Bar Association, it is also extending legal assistance when required in the process of election monitoring and is considering a request from PAFFREL with respect to the Provincial Council elections,’’ Jayasuriya said.

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