SLBA is accused of failing to take action against increasing threats to lawyers

President of the Association, Gunaratne Wanninayake, urged Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) to organise the island-wide action against the grenade attack on human rights lawyer, J Chrishantha Weliamuna.

A grenade was thrown and another unexploded grenade was found at the residence of Mr. Weliamuna, the executive director of Transparency International (TI) Sri Lanka.

Industrial action

TI last week published the annual report on corruption in which Sri Lanka was listed in the 92 place.

Mr. Wanninayake told BBC Sandeshaya that inaction by the BASL is partly to be blamed for the increasing attacks on legal professionals.

The Bar Association has failed to take action regarding many critical incidents   Colombo Magistrate Court Bar Association

“The Bar Association has failed to take action regarding many critical incidents,” he told the BBC on Monday.

The BASL however rejected the accusation.

BASL General Secretary, Udaya Rohan de Silva, told BBC Sandeshaya that the Association is to convene a meeting on 11 October to decide the cause of action against increasing threats against lawyers.

He rejected the call for strike action.

Over 300 lawyers have requested a meeting to discuss the issue, he said, but there has been no demand for an industrial action.