The Daily News

Protestors who thronged the Hulftsdorp Court Complex saying they were in support of Chief Justice (CJ) Shirani Bandaranayake ended up brawling after one group of lawyers broke away from the original protestors, claiming that certain dollar making elements were trying to destroy Sri Lanka in partnership with the CJ.

They vehemently refused to support the CJ who faced serious integrity charges before the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC). They maintained the law in the country applies equally to all, and whosoever violates that law should be penalized despite their position or status.

Meanwhile, when the CJ was hearing cases in court room 502, hearing of cases in another court nearby had been abruptly halted. The people awaiting their cases to be taken up, created a tense situation and they blamed the CJ, lawyers and the court for not ensuring that the courts function on time. These people together with a large number of lawyers staged a protest stating that some groups within the legal fraternity are contriving to tarnish the true image of the country, and humiliate Sri Lanka before the local and international community.

Less than 200 lawyers led by Sri Lanka Lawyers Association (SLLA) Chairman president s counsel Wijedasa Rajapaksa had gathered at the scene to stage the protest despite the absence of SLLA deputy chairperson Anoma Gunathilaka.

She did not participate in the protest. Due to the rally, case hearings were delayed and people began criticizing the lawyers for delaying their litigation, though grabbing their money with the promise of finishing their cases soon.

Margaret Gunathilaka, a resident of Borella said that the misconduct of these lawyers cannot be approved and they should help to carry out legal proceedings and should not fall prey to extraneous agendas.

One group of lawyers were in agreement with the protesting public and categorically denied there was a lawyersƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ protest in support of the CJ. ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-The protest which runs on dollar earnings cannot be acceptedƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚, they charged.

J. C. Weliamuna, attorney-at-law meanwhile instructed junior lawyers to hide the banner ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Colombo Youth Lawyers AssociationƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ in order to make out that the protesting lawyersƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ were volunteers and and not members of any legal association.