Joint Opp Demands Resignation of BASL President

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Joint Opposition staged a protest outside the headquarters of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) today, calling for the immediate resignation of its President, Attorney-at-Law Rajeev Amarasuriya, alleging that he was using one of the country's leading professional organizations to advance political interests.

The protest was held this morning in front of the BASL headquarters in Colombo, where members of the Joint Opposition engaged in a silent demonstration and publicly urged Amarasuriya to step down from his position.

During the protest, Joint Opposition Executive Committee Member Priyantha Thilakaratne criticized what he described as the Bar Association's opposition to government reforms.

He argued that every government elected by the people has a mandate to develop the country and implement reforms wherever necessary. According to him, opposing such reforms on political grounds was inappropriate for a professional body of the stature of the Bar Association.

Thilakaratne said the Joint Opposition strongly condemned what it viewed as the politicization of the organization, describing the situation as "shameful." He further asserted that a person serving as President of the Bar Association should remain impartial and free from political influence, and claimed that Amarasuriya no longer met that standard.

Joint Opposition Co-Convener Niruksha Kumara also leveled strong criticism against the BASL President, particularly in relation to his stance on the proposed 22nd Constitutional Amendment.

Kumara alleged that Amarasuriya had engaged in political activity rather than acting in a manner expected of the head of a professional association. He claimed that the BASL President had become a political figure and accused him of acting in a manner inconsistent with the role and responsibilities of the organization.

Referring to a recent public appearance involving former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Kumara alleged that Amarasuriya's close association with opposition political figures undermined the neutrality expected of the President of the Bar Association.

He further alleged that Amarasuriya was acting in alignment with opposition groups led by Wickremesinghe, and argued that this was sufficient reason for him to resign from office.

Kumara also questioned a letter previously sent to Parliament by the BASL President regarding alleged threats from government MPs, claiming that subsequent clarifications had raised questions about the matter.

Drawing comparisons with other professional organizations that had become embroiled in political controversy, Kumara claimed that public trust in such bodies had been eroded when their leaders became involved in politics. He argued that the BASL was at risk of facing a similar situation.

Meanwhile, in a separate development later in the day, Dinith Chinthaka Karunaratne of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe's media unit issued a statement on behalf of the People-Centric Joint Opposition Media Division condemning the protest.

The statement said the demonstration was viewed with strong disapproval and described it as a low and uncivilized act.

It also emphasized that no member or affiliate of the People-Centric Joint Opposition had participated in or been connected to the protest, rejecting any attempt to associate the group with the demonstration held outside the Bar Association headquarters