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Attack
on Attorney-at-Law J.C. Weliamuna
Attack
on Democracy and Judiciary
By
Stanley Samarasinghe
More than 500 Lawyers in Hulftsdrop yesterday staged
a “Silent Street Walk” to protest against the grenade
attack on the residence of Attorney-at-Law J.C. Weliamuna
on September 27, 2008.
The ‘Silent Street Walk’ commenced in front of the
Supreme Court yesterday afternoon, proceeded along Mihindu
Mawatha up to the Bar Association office and returned to the
Supreme Court premises.
It was led by very Senior President’s Counsel N.R.M.
Daluwatta with former Attorney General Shibly Aziz, P.C. and
Manohara De Silva P.C. followed by lawyers and lady lawyers.
At the commencement of the protest, N.R.M. Daluwatta P.C.,
addressing the gathering, said that the protest should be
very peaceful and demonstrate the Lawyers dignity to express
their opposition to the incident at the residence of Attorney-at-Law
Weliamuna. He stressed that the Lawyers’ responsibility
is to represent their clients in the Judiciary and no one
can deny that right.
Shibly Aziz P.C. said that their colleague Weliamuna appears
in court on behalf of his clients in various controversial
cases. to assist the court. If any person or group attempts
to suspend it, it amounts to interfere with the judiciary.
This type of cowardly act is a challenge to the independence
of the judiciary and it is a dangerous sign against the freedom
of the Lawyers and the citizens seeking their assistance for
justice Aziz added.
Former Secretary, Bar Association of Sri Lanka, Upul Jayasuriya
expressing his views before the gathering, said that this
cowardly act was a attempt at curtailing, suppressing and
hindering our freedom of peacefully an consciously engaging
in our profession and performing a constitutional duty towards
the citizen, which responsiblity has been cast on us.
He explained the urgent motion to hand over to the Secretary,
Bar Association of Sri Lanka, U.R. de Silva and requested
the IGP to investigate on this matter very impartially, honestly
and to disclose the steps the police has taken to bring the
culprits to justice, within one week.
Manohara de Silva P.C. expressing his views, said that the
attack on our colleague is a attack on the profession and
Lawyers cannot ignore it, we have to register our protest.
President’s advisor and Attorney-at-Law Vasudeva Nananayakkara
said this cowardly act is a dangerous blow on citizens democratic
rights and independence of Judiciary.
Whoever is responsible for this act, indicates to the people
of this country that justice of judiciary must be done according
to them, and that is the message they are giving to the country.
We must consider this as a attack on Democracy and Independence
of Judiciary.
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