BASL members to refrain from appearing for court cases today

2026-02-16 - 05:00

Members of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) are refraining from appearing before courts island-wide on behalf of any cases today (Feb. 16). The decision was taken at a special meeting held yesterday (15) at the BASL HQ, in response to the recent gunning down of a lawyer and his wife in Akuregoda. It is also singular that this is the first time in 14 years that all members of the BASL had convened for a collective meeting in Colombo. BASL President Attorney Rajeev Amarasuriya noted that their members held detailed deliberations on the implications of the attack and agreed to refrain from court proceedings today in a show of solidarity and protest. The move reflects the collective stance of the legal community in response to an attack on one of their own, he adds. Speaking to media, he added that the association reached four unanimous decisions during the meeting which are : To urge the government to take immediate action to end the prevailing culture of murders in the country and ensure public safety. To have all members refrain from attending court activities across the country today. To request that police and relevant law enforcement institutions immediately arrest and take legal action against all individuals responsible for the heinous crime. To express strong disapproval to police and other concerned parties regarding the dissemination or portrayal of unverified information as factual. Meanwhile, the Attorney General’s Department Legal Officers’ Association has expressed solidarity with the BASL’s decision to refrain from court work today. At an emergency Executive Committee meeting, the Legal Officers’ Association had resolved to stand with the BASL’s resolution. The decision has been communicated to the Attorney General, who has indicated that officers attending court tomorrow will refrain from objecting to any postponements sought, in view of the BASL resolution.