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BASL leaders watch video of controversial meeting
Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) representatives have been shown a video recording of the controversial recent webinar held for judicial officers under the title “Matters relating to judicial proceedings in the context of the Covid-19 Pandemic.”
The recording had been shown to BASL representatives on the instructions of Judicial Service Commission (JSC) Chairman and Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, the Sunday Times learns. BASL representatives who viewed the recording this week included its President Saliya Pieris, Deputy President Anura Meddegoda, Secretary Rajeev Amarasuriya, Treasurer Rajindh Perera and Assistant Secretary Pasindu Silva.
BASL President Saliya Pieris confirmed he and other BASL representatives had viewed the recording but added that they were yet to issue a response. He declined further comment.
The Sunday Times understands that the BASL will issue a statement after its Executive Committee meets in the next few days to discuss the matter.
The BASL had written to the JSC on August 16, requesting the JSC to immediately address concerns raised on the webinar, which had been organised by the Sri Lanka Judges’ Institute for magistrates and district judges. The letter observed that media reports claim that during the webinar, the issue of trade union protests and the role of the courts also came up for discussion, that judicial officers had been given instructions on the use of certain sections of the Criminal Procedure Code to control public gatherings on account of the pandemic situation in the country, and that there was a perception among judicial officers that there was an effort to impress upon them to give orders, if the police request to curb protests.
Meanwhile, the Justice Ministry issued a statement on Monday (23) stating that the JSC had sent a detailed response to questions raised by the National People Power Leader Anura Kumar a Dissanayake in Parliament regarding the webinar. It added that Justice Minister Ali Sabry will brief Parliament on this issue on a later date.