BASL calls for Special Meeting to oust President

Members of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) yesterday submitted a motion to call for a Special General Meeting (SGM) to take action against their President, who has expressed his views on national media repeatedly without proper sanction or mandate.

“We, the undersigned members of the BASL, are of the unanimous view that the decisions of the Executive President of the Republic in removal of the Prime Minister, Prorogation and Dissolvement of the Parliament is a matter of grave concern, and which is of national importance relating to the rule of law and administration of justice, which warrants consideration of the same by this Association. The members of the Association over the past few weeks has witnessed with astonishment and dismay the manner in which the President of the BASL U. R. de Silva PC has conducted himself on public media, playing a proactive role to justify the actions of the Executive President of the Republic at whatever the cost,” the letter sent to the BASL Secretary by the members said.

The members also noted that BASL President U.R. de Silva PC has acted arbitrarily and in abuse of his power by publicly expressing his views, using the office of President (BASL) to reflect the view to be the opinion of the Association, without summoning the Council to decide on matters failing within the objects of the Association, the letter noted. 

“We undersigned members further move to resolve at such SGM that President U.R. de Silva PC is not fit and proper to carry out the functions and duties vested inherently and constitutionally on the office of the President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka,” they stressed.

The undersigned members moved that the President and the Secretary take necessary steps to convene and call for a SGM of the Association on the first Saturday immediately preceding expiry of seven days from the receipt of this motion, considering the urgency of the situation.