News
Upul Jayasuriya in landslide win for independent judiciary, rule of law
View(s):Former Secretary of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), Upul Jayasuriya was elected President of the legal fraternity at last Wednesday’s all-island elections, defeating his main rival, Thirantha Walaliyadda, P.C. The election was held because incumbent BASL President Wijayadasa Rajapaksha, MP, P.C. was not standing for a second term, and comes in the immediate wake of weeks of protests by a majority of lawyers, over the recent impeachment of Chief Justice (CJ) Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake.
New Bar Association president Upul Jayasuriya (R) with the defeated candidates Thirantha Walaliyadda (L) and R.R.S.Thangaraja
Mr. Jayasuriya, a frontline opponent to the impeachment of CJ Dr Bandaranayake, campaigned on the platform of reinvigorating the BASL, which, he said, failed to stand firm during the impeachment crisis, to reestablish the independence of the Judiciary, and ensure that the Rule of Law was respected, won the Colombo Bar vote by a resounding 1,471 votes to 330 votes for Mr. Walaliyadda. He also won at Attanagalla (27-9), Anuradhapura (32-16), Batticaloa (28-0), Galle (97-23), Gampaha (47-24), Hambantota (14-6), Jaffna (17-2), Kandy (132-32), Kurunegala (84-10), Matara (92-24), Negombo (54-10), Panadura (50-12) and Tangalle (18-2) among several other smaller Bars.
Mr. Walaliyadda P.C. won at Kuliyapitiya (20-19), Minuwangoda (9-8), Nugegoda (19-9) and Chilaw (12-11). The BASL convocation is scheduled for the third week of March, when Mr. Jayasuriya will be inducted as the new President of the BASL that boasts a registered membership of over 11,000 lawyers in the country.
Meanwhile, BASL President-elect Upul Jayasuriya, speaking to the Sunday Times, said that the overwhelming majority was more than to elect a President, it also sends a clear message to “the powers that be.” “The members of the Bar made it clear what the Bar Association should firmly stand for; the independence of the Judiciary, to uphold the Rule of Law and respect the dignity of lawyers,” Mr. Jaysuriya added.
Commenting on his plans as BASL president, he said, he hoped to start a dialogue with the people to abolish the 18 Amendment which has taken away the rights of appointment of judges to the Superior Courts, vested with eminent persons, and conferring that power on one individual. Tirantha Walaliyadde P.C. the defeated candidate said that he firmly believed in a working relationship with the government, the opposition, the Chief Justice and the Attorney General.
“The Bar lost an opportunity,” to mend the broken relationships between the Bar and the Judiciary. However, he said that the reason for the defeat would have been that he was identified as running with the government and the opposition, but he disassociated with the claim that he was government-sponsored. Incumbent BASL secretary Sanjaya Gamage, only candidate nominated for the post of Secretary was re-elected once again for 2013/2014.
Follow @timesonlinelk
comments powered by Disqus