The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) on Tuesday expressed serious concern over growing public pressure on the Office of the Attorney General, as opposing protests are planned in Colombo both against and in support of the Attorney General.
In a statement issued on Jan. 20, the BASL warned that recent social media campaigns and public actions targeting the Attorney General risk undermining the independence of the office, which it described as a key pillar of the rule of law .
The BASL noted that the Attorney General performs a quasi-judicial role in criminal matters and is required to decide whether to indict suspects based solely on the evidence presented by investigative authorities and the likelihood of securing a conviction under the law .
The association stressed that decisions of the Attorney General are subject to judicial review through writ jurisdiction in the Court of Appeal or fundamental rights jurisdiction in the Supreme Court, and should not be influenced by public opinion or political pressure .
While acknowledging that citizens have the right to critique decisions of public officials, the BASL said such criticism must not amount to unwarranted interference or attempts to erode institutional independence, particularly through partisan campaigns .
The BASL urged the government and law enforcement authorities to ensure the protection of the independence and integrity of the Office of the Attorney General, warning that failure to do so would be detrimental to justice and democratic governance. (Newswire)
