Jayasuriya politicises BASL Convention

Attempts by the new Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) President Upul Jayasuriya to politicise the highly respected professional body of lawyers, saw Attorney General Palitha Fernando PC walking out of yesterday's BASL annual convention at the Nawarangahala.

Jayasuriya, who is well-known for his UNP affiliations, had invited former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake who had been found guilty of three charges by a Parliamentary Select Committee and is facing bribery and corruption charges, without sending a mandatory invitation to Chief Justice Mohan Peiris. Since the customary invitation had not been sent to the Chief Justice, the Attorney General had walked out of the event when Shirani Bandaranayake made an unceremonial entry, much to the dislike of the majority of lawyers present.

Later, Shirani Bandaranayake had graced the induction of Jayasuriya as the President of the BASL. Several lawyers too walked out of the event, following the action of the Attorney General. It was reported that judges and senior lawyers too had kept away from last night's reception, following Jayasuriya's high-handed act, attempting to make the BASL a political organ of the UNP.