UPUL’s security still a puzzle: BASL

16 August 2014 02:22 am Views - 3238

Sri Lanka Bar Association (BASL) President Upul Jayasuriya said yesterday he was puzzled and surprised on the decision taken by the Police Department with regard to his protection and said he was not given adequate security as requested by the BASL.

The BASL Executive Committee had earlier filed a petition seeking police protection for Mr. Jayasuriya after he complained of death threats.

“What we asked was that two uniformed police officers to accompany wherever I go. But what we got are two police officers in civvies and they are also in the vicinity of my home. I’m puzzled with this arrangement,” Mr. Jayasuriya told a news conference held at BASL Head Office.

He said there have been several instances where private citizens too have been granted police security.

 “There was such incident wherein a brother of a victim from Wanathamulla was granted security with six guards on an undertaking given by a DIG in the Magistrate’s Court,” Mr. Jayasuriya said.

He said the authorities had today denied similar security for the BASL President, a leader of the legal fraternity with a membership of more than 15,000 raising questions about the security of the average citizen.

Meanwhile BASL Secretary Ajith Pathirana said they were still waiting for the police to release the pictures of the people who had trailed Mr. Jayasuriya. He said the BASL had requested the Police Chief to release the pictures but it had not received a positive answer.

 The BASL said it fought when the independence of the Judiciary was challenged in country and taken up matters that are of concern to the members of civil society when their rights have been violated by those who are entrusted to safeguard their rights by statute.

“We have fought for the Rule of Law. We have fought for propler appointments to the Apex Court. We have considered all people equally irrespective of their cast, creed or community,” the BASL said.(Lahiru Pothmulla)