The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has raised concerns over reports that the Cabinet may review the Attorney General’s (AG) decision to discharge three suspects in the Lasantha Wickrematunge assassination case.
In a letter to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the BASL emphasized that while the AG is accountable to the public, he performs a quasi-judicial role and must base decisions on available evidence and legal admissibility. The association warned that political interference in prosecutorial decisions could undermine the AG’s independence and the rule of law.
BASL noted that the Supreme Court has affirmed that AG’s decisions can be reviewed through judicial processes, including writ or fundamental rights jurisdiction. It urged the President to safeguard the independence of key institutions, stressing that judicial and quasi-judicial decisions may not always align with public opinion but must be made in accordance with the law. (NewsWire)
