The National Lawyers’ Association has called on the Government to take all steps necessary to implement the 17th Amendment, bring an immediate halt to the suppression of the media, and restore the rule of law in Sri Lanka.
These were among several resolutions made when the association, comprising lawyers supporting the UNP, met on Friday. The resolutions, proposed by NLA president and former Attorney General, Shibly Aziz, PC, will be forwarded to the President. The meeting was attended by 210 lawyers.
Other resolutions included a demand that judicial officers and judges be placed on a special salary scale outside that of public services, and that their salaries and allowances be increased to a reasonable level.Referring to the misuse of government property and power during elections, the lawyers have urged the Government to set up an Independent Elections Commission, and a Constitutional Council to implement the 17th Amendment.
The lawyers are also urging the Government to ensure media freedom, stressing that freedom to information was a basic right of citizens. The association noted, among other things, charges of bribery and corruption against the government; misuse of public funds, and the ineffectiveness of bodies set up to investigate these matters.
The lawyers have also urged the Government to restore the rule of law, which is now being challenged. | 
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