Kiriella's statement an insult to legal profession - Attorney

by Chanuka Mannapperuma

"We are planning to take legal action regarding the statement made by Parliamentarian Lakshman Kiriella recently to a Sinhala daily newspaper which was an insult to the profession of lawyers", Colombo Magistrate Courts Lawyer, Anton Senanayake told the media at a media briefing at the Hotel Nippon.

"Kiriella had stated that the lawyers were sleeping and they did not know how to carry out their profession". It was disgraceful, he said. As lawyers, we are ready to assist people", he said.

"Being a lawyer, Kiriella should not have made such a statement, he said. Kiriella had not informed about his grievance to the Magistrate Lawyers' Association nor the Bar Association. He could have at least written to these Associations", he said.

Senanayake said Kiriella began his career as a member of the Bar Association and it was not appropriate for him to charge that lawyers were 'consuming the leftovers of the Government'. If Kiriella was really concerned about the legal profession, why didn't he quit the Bar Association and make such an allegation, he said.

High Court Lawyers' Association President, U. R. De Silva, member of the Magistrates Courts Lawyers' Association, Sanjaya Gamage, Secretary Senerath Jayasundara and Wasantha Perera also participated.