February 03, Colombo (LNW): The Lawyers’ Collective, through an open letter addressed to the Minister of Public Security, expressed their concerns regarding the implementation of the Yukthiya Anti-drug Campaign, urging adherence to the rule of law.
The collective emphasised that the campaign should not be pursued as a personal, passionate initiative outside the bounds of legal frameworks.
In the letter, the Lawyers’ Collective highlighted the importance of conducting the anti-drug campaign in line with established legal principles and cautioned against perceiving laws as obstacles to be disregarded.
They suggested that initiating the campaign earlier during the Minister’s term would have been more appropriate than its commencement in an election year.
The letter underscored several key points of concern, including the Minister’s statements implying a disregard for laws restricting authority, labeling critics as drug dealers and addicts, and targeting lawyers who express dissent.
The Collective expressed dismay over the Minister’s public declarations of ignoring international norms and standards, dismissing them as “foreign and outside influences.”
Furthermore, the letter questioned the Minister’s personal involvement in appointing the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) for the campaign, emphasising that such appointments fall under the purview of the President and the Constitutional Council.
The Lawyers’ Collective criticised the appointment of Deshabandu Tennekoon as Acting IGP, pointing out the Supreme Court’s findings on Tennekoon’s personal responsibility for acts of torture.
The letter, signed by prominent legal figures, including President’s Counsel Rienzie Arsecularatne, Professor Savitri Goonesekere, Upul Jayasuriya, Dr. Jayampathy Wickramaratne, and others, highlighted the need for the Minister to uphold the responsibilities associated with the office, aligning with the laws and constitution of Sri Lanka.
