The threats faced by the judiciary have come to the attention of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL). The BASL had held a meeting on the 22^nd and had unanimously adopted several resolutions on the matter after a lengthy discussion.

The BASL had focused attention on the controversial statement issued by the Secretary of the Judicial Services Commission (JSC), Manjula Thilekartane and had decided that steps should be taken against such threats.

It was decided to see if legal action could be initiated against the head of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, Hudson Samarasinghe who has spoken in derogatory manner against the Chief Justice and the judicial process. The motion presented on the matter by Attorney Upul Jayasuriya had been unanimously approved by the Association.

A four member committee including President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva, President’s Counsel Ikram Mohomad, President’s Counsel and former Attorney General Shibly Aziz and President’s Counsel Hemantha Warnakulasuriya was appointed study the legal action to be taken against Samarasinghe.

The SLBC Chairman had criticized the Mannar Magistrate and had baselessly accused his sister was linked to the LTTE after a court order was issued against Minister Rishard Bathiudeeen.

Samarasungeh had also criticized the Supreme Court directive on Minister Basil Rajapaksa’s Divi Neguma Bill. Apart from the SLBC, the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) is also carrying out a campaign against the Chief Justice and the judiciary.

We earlier reported that the SLBC Chairman was openly critical of the Chief Justice and the judiciary following a Presidential directive.