Legal experts from the bar have strongly criticized the recent remarks made by Public Security Minister Tiran Alles regarding the elimination of underworld and drug operatives on sight. The President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), Attorney Kaushalya Nawaratne, expressed serious concern over the statement, emphasizing that Sri Lanka is not a police state and that criminals should be dealt with through the existing legal system.
Attorney Nawaratne highlighted the importance of the governance system in the country, which consists of the executive, legislature, and judiciary. He questioned the appropriateness of a senior minister making such a statement publicly, stating that it undermines the rule of law. Sri Lanka cannot resort to shooting and killing individuals without due process when there is a functioning legal system in place.
Moreover, the BASL President warned that such a statement could lead to a dangerous future where innocent people may be falsely implicated in drug-related cases for political reasons and subsequently eliminated. The BASL is currently discussing strong measures to address this issue, as well as the Minister’s remarks regarding lawyers representing drug lords. Attorney Nawaratne emphasized that it is a globally accepted norm for lawyers to represent any suspect, regardless of their alleged crimes.
Former BASL President Saliya Pieris PC also condemned the encouragement of extrajudicial killings by any Minister or official. He highlighted the risks associated with allowing police officers to commit unlawful killings, as it provides an opportunity for corrupt officers and politicians to target their opponents and conceal their own criminal activities. The Supreme Court has consistently condemned extrajudicial killings, and police officers responsible for custodial deaths have been held accountable through court orders for compensation or even imprisonment. Pieris shared instances where police officers who followed illegal orders faced severe consequences. In such cases, both the superiors and the politicians involved were implicated.
