News
Historic address by BASL President at the Supreme Court of India
The President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), Rajeev Amarasuriya, Attorney-at-Law, recently delivered a historic address at the Supreme Court of India in connection with a delegation of Sri Lankan lawyers visiting India at the invitation of the Bar Association of India.
The Indian Supreme Court No. 1 was presided by the Chief Justice of India Surya Kant with Justices R. Mahadevan and Joymalya Bagchi.
The visit of the Sri Lankan delegation forms part of a broader initiative to strengthen dialogue, professional exchange and collaboration between the Bars and legal institutions of Sri Lanka and India.
The Chief Justice of India warmly welcomed the Sri Lanka Delegation and recollected the visit to Colombo in August last year and fond memories.
The Attorney General of India R. Venkataramani, Solicitor General of India Thushar Mehta, the President Bar Association of India Prashant Kumar and the President of the Supreme Court Advocates Association were all present to welcome the Sri Lanka Delegation.
Addressing the Supreme Court, the BASL President conveyed greetings from the legal profession of Sri Lanka and noted that the occasion marked a significant and historic milestone in the professional engagement between the Bars of Sri Lanka and India. In his address, the BASL President highlighted the longstanding historical, cultural and legal ties between Sri Lanka and India, noting that the relationship between the two jurisdictions has been shaped by shared constitutional traditions, common legal heritage, and a mutual commitment to the rule of law, judicial independence, and democratic governance.
He also recalled the visit of the Chief Justice of India to Sri Lanka on 23 October last year, during which His Lordship delivered the Inaugural Bar Association of Sri Lanka Human Rights Oration and also delivered the Keynote Address at the Inauguration of the BASL National Law Conference.
The BASL President further reflected on the deep civilisational relationship between Sri Lanka and India, recalling the historic mission of Arahant Mahinda Thera, through which Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka more than two millennia ago, and the enduring cultural and philosophical ties that continue to connect the two nations.
The BASL President expressed appreciation to the Bar Association of India for organising the programme and for facilitating this historic interaction between the legal communities of the two countries.
The Delegation also had productive meetings with the Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, the Attorney General of India R. Venkataramani, and the Chief Justice of New Delhi Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya.
New controversy erupts over missing USD 2.5 mn:
Public interest activist Nagananda Kodituwakku has sought citizenship details of Finance Ministry Secretary Harshana Suriyapperuma from the Department of Home Affairs, Australia.
According to a letter dated 28 April, addressed to the relevant department, Solicitor England and Wales Kodituwakku sought the required information in terms of Section 15 of the Freedom of Information Act No 3 of 1982 of Australia. Suriyapperuma is also the Secretary to the Treasury.
The former Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Suriyapperuma (from November 2024 to June 2025) is embroiled in a deepening controversy over the theft of USD 2.5 mn from the Treasury.
The leader of the Vinivida Foundation said that he intended to move court against Suriyapperuma for entering Parliament through the NPP National List in violation of the country’s Constitution (Article 91(1)(d)(xiiii).
Kodituwakku said: “This is clearly an accountability and integrity issue and violation of the Constitution of Sri Lanka and also this act contravenes the law of a member in the Commonwealth.”
USD 2.5 mn paid to a third party was meant to be an instalment of a loan taken from Australia. Suriyapperuma neither responded to an SMS nor answered his hand phone.
Geetha Kumarasinghe (UPFA/Galle District) and Diana Gamage (SJB National List) lost their seats in 2017 and 2024, respectively, over citizenship issues.
Meanwhile, public interest group ‘Free Lawyers’ that exposed the theft of Treasury funds questioned the failure on the part of Dr. Harsha de Silva, Chairman of Committee on Public Finance (CoPF), to pressure President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to temporarily remove Suriyapperuma to facilitate unhindered investigations.
On behalf of ‘Free Lawyers’, Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon yesterday expressed concern over the way the CoPF, under SJBer de Silva’s leadership, handled the issue at hand. Issuing an open letter, Tennakoon, urged the CoPF chief to explain his stand on a spate of vital issues which needed to be addressed without any further delay.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
News
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake handing over a sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhiya in Anuradhapura to Ven Bhikku Pannakara
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake handing over a sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhiya in Anuradhapura to Ven Bhikku Pannakara (Sue Tue Nhan) at the conclusion of the 161 km ‘International Peace Walk’ in Colombo yesterday. The Bo-sapling will be taken to the US by the spiritual leader. Pic by Sujata Jayaratne
Cabinet Spokesman Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa yesterday revealed that a USD 625,000 payment made by Sri Lanka’s Department of Posts to the US Postal Service (USPS) had not been received by the intended party.
The declaration was made at the post-Cabinet media briefing.
According to the Minister, an investigation has been initiated into the incident.
The Minister said that an investigation was underway within the Sri Lanka Postal Department regarding the missing funds paid to the US Postal Service.
He added that the US Postal Service has indicated the non-receipt of a payment amounting to USD 625,000, and that investigations were being conducted by both the Postal Department and the CID to determine how the incident occurred.
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