Bar Association welcomes appointment of Rajaratnam as new AG

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) in a statement has welcomed the appointment of Sanjay Rajaratnam PC to the office of the Attorney-General and wishes him well in the discharge of his duties. 

A statement issued by the BASL in October 2014 on the appointment of the Attorney-General states: 

“The high office of the Attorney-General is of vital significance to the citizens of our country since the Attorney-General, as the Chief Legal Adviser of the State, has the duty of advising the Government on what is lawful or unlawful and the duty of ensuring that the law is applied, without fear or favour, with regard to criminal prosecutions. 

Thus, it is essential that a person who is appointed to the Office of Attorney-General is manifestly able to function independently and impartially and to ensure that the law is applied, without political or other considerations. 

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka on behalf of the legal fraternity of Sri Lanka expects that these vital criteria will be satisfied when the next appointment is made and that due consideration will be given to merit and seniority of service in the Attorney-General’s Department.” 

In its statement, BASL noted that at the time of his appointment as the Attorney-General Sanjay Rajaratnam PC was the Acting Solicitor-General and the most senior officer in the Department of the Attorney General presently eligible for appointment, having served the Department of the Attorney-General since 1988. 

Whilst congratulating the new Attorney General, “We have the confidence that he will exercise his duties impartially and maintain the independence of the Office. We look to him to uphold the Rule of Law, the Independence of the judiciary and the fundamental human rights of the people,” said the BASL statement issued.

BASL also commended the President and the Parliamentary Council for giving due consideration to the vital criteria when appointing the Attorney-General on the first occasion such an appointment was made after the enactment of the 20th Amendment of the Constitution. 

“The BASL takes this opportunity to thank the outgoing Attorney-General, Dappula de Livera PC, for his service to the Department and for the cooperation he extended to the BASL and wishes him well on his retirement,” the statement added.