‘Bar Association must reveal its stand’

Civil society group ‘Free Lawyers’ has requested Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena to probe whether political pressure was brought on a Magistrate, or a High Court Judge, in respect of an ongoing high profile case.

Speaking to The Island on behalf of ‘Free Lawyers,’ Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon said that they felt the urgent need to seek the CJ’s intervention, following the May Day declaration by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake that the verdict of a case that was heard on 30 April would be given on 25 May. Tennakoon said that addressing the NPP’s main May Day rally at Maharagama, the President asked the people to be ready to celebrate that verdict. The President couldn’t have said so if he hadn’t been aware of the impending verdict, Tennakoon said, while emphasising the responsibility on the part of the Bar Association to state its position on the issue.

‘Free Lawyers’ recently captured pubic attention following its exposure of the theft of USD 2.5 mn from the Treasury.

Responding to a query, Tennakoon said that on behalf of ‘Free Lawyers,’ Maithri Gunaratne, PC, on Monday, 4 April, wrote to both CJ Surasena and President of the Bar Association Rajeev Amarasuriya.

Alleging that President Dissanayake’s declaration caused immense harm to the independence of the judiciary and raised controversy over the judgement that would be given on 25 May, ‘Free Lawyers’ organisation also asked the CJ to inquire into whether the entire judicial process was under political pressure.

Tennakoon said that they expect the Bar Association to reveal its position on President Dissanayake’s statement. Tennakoon pointed out that during the May Day address, President Dissanayake made reference to 15 cases that were to be taken up during this month, whereas Transport, Highways and Urban Development Minister, as well as Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake, mentioned nearly 10 names of politicians, both sitting and former lawmakers, to be summoned beginning, May.

Tennakoon said that the NPP appeared to have used May Day to counter growing accusations over the Colombo port container controversy, coal scam, Rs 13.2 bn NDB fraud and theft of USD 2.5 mn from the Treasury and USD 625,000 from the Sri Lanka Postal Service.

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The Canadian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Isabelle Martin over the last weekend met representatives of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) in the East. Tamil Guardian reported that talks focused on the challenges facing the Tamil people.

The meeting was held at the office of ITAK Member of Parliament Kaveendiran Kodeeswaran and brought together parliamentarians representing the Batticaloa and Ampara districts, alongside local government officials including divisional council chairpersons.

Discussions centred on a range of pressing issues, including livelihoods, access to education, employment opportunities and ongoing human rights concerns, as well as the broader state of democratic governance in the region.

High Commissioner Martin sought updates on prevailing socio-economic conditions, particularly the challenges confronting local communities in the East. She noted the concerns raised and indicated that she would follow up on the matters discussed.

Among those present were ITAK MPs Kaveendiran Kodeeswaran, Gnanamuthu Sirinesan and Dr Elayathamby Srinath, along with several local council representatives.

A section of residents of Keppapilavu, in Mullaitivu, on May Day protested. demanding the release of lands still occupied by the military, 17 years after the end of the armed conflict.

They reiterated their longstanding demand for the return of lands seized by the military, in 2009, to establish a camp, sources in the North said. For over 17 years, Keppapilavu residents have sustained a continuous campaign of protests, petitions and advocacy efforts, calling for the right to resettle on their original lands, they said.

Despite limited releases under successive governments, protesters stressed that substantial areas remain under military control. They highlighted that 171 acres were yet to be returned, including 59.5 acres of residential land and 111 acres of agricultural land. The residential areas once supported over 55 families and included homes, schools, places of worship and shared community spaces.

Holding placards and chanting slogans, demonstrators said that their struggle extends beyond land ownership, framing it as a fight for dignity, livelihood and the restoration of a community life disrupted since 2009.

Residents declared that since the current government assumed office, multiple appeals have been made through formal channels, including submissions to the Presidential Secretariat and the Mullaitivu District Secretariat. However, they stated that these efforts have yielded no meaningful progress toward the release of the remaining lands.

Protesters called on Sri Lankan and the local authorities to take immediate and concrete steps to return the entirety of the occupied land, enabling displaced families to resettle and rebuild their lives without further delay.