Erroneous says secretary

Bar Association of Sri Lanka secretary Sunil D.B. Abeyratne has sent us mail referring to our news item of last week which stated that he has moved to expel 89 delegates of the Bar Council. He says this news item is ‘erroneous.’

Then, he says that “I have only informed the delegates of the Bar Council the position of certain members under the Constitution of the BASL since the entire membership is bound by the same” - in other words confirming the story. Not just that, Mr. Abeyratne goes on to quote the relevant section of the BASL Constitution and says “Accordingly, not only 89 members, more than 200 delegates (Colombo and outstation) have ceased their office.”

He says that as the Bar Association secretary, it was his duty to inform the Bar Council to implement the provisions of the BASL Constitution. If we are ‘erroneous’, then it is not that 89, but 200 delegates who are to be 'purged' from the Bar Council. The figure of 89 we gave came from the Secretary's own Notice BC/07/2007-2008, which gave the 89 names. It is he who is ‘erroneous’ as he now says the figure is ‘more than 200.’ These include several senior ex-judges and eminent President's Counsel.

But all’s well that ends well. Yesterday, Daya Perera PC, BASL deputy president had proposed that all these purged delegates be re-appointed, and the Bar Council voted in favour unanimously. None protested, not even Mr. Abeyratne.