Top lawyers express concerns on contents of PCoI report on Political Victimization

A group of top lawyers in the country raised severe concerns on the contents of the report submitted by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) that probed political victimization during the previous regime.

The group of President Counsels (PC) collectively wrote to the Secretary of Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) urging him to obtain a copy of the report from the Presidential Secretariat.

The signatories of President Counsels are: K. Kanag-isvaran, Ikram Mohamed, Faisz Musthapha, Upali Gooneratne, Geoffrey Alagaratnam, Romesh de Silva, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, Saliya Pieris, Nihal Jayamanna, Upul Jayasuriya and U.R.D. Silva,

"Upon a perusal of the news items, we have serious concerns that the contents of the report may undermine the Rule of law in this country, the independence of the judiciary and erode the impartial and efficient functioning of the AG’S Department,” the letter noted.

The Commission of inquiry members included former Supreme Court judges Upali Abeyratne and Chandra Jayatilake and former IGP Chandra Fernando.It handed over its final report to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa last month.