BASL warns against media targeting of judiciary amid concerns over online speculation

Date:

May 18, Colombo (LNW): The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has voiced serious concerns over a growing wave of online commentary that it claims is undermining the country’s judiciary.

In a strongly worded statement issued on Sunday (18), the BASL condemned a series of online media posts and social media content that it says unjustly target judicial officers, thereby threatening the integrity of the justice system.

According to the association, recent digital content—some of which includes images of judges accompanied by speculative commentary—has fuelled public conjecture over matters currently under judicial inquiry.

The BASL stressed that such commentary, in the absence of verified information or legal substantiation, encourages a culture of “trial by media” that endangers the rule of law and erodes public trust in judicial independence.

Judicial officers, by the nature of their role, are constrained from responding publicly to accusations or speculation, the BASL noted. As such, unverified allegations circulated online can unfairly tarnish reputations and potentially influence ongoing legal processes.

The association reminded the public and media professionals alike that due process must be respected, especially when legal proceedings are active or pending.

Highlighting the constitutional framework governing the conduct and discipline of the judiciary, the BASL underscored that formal mechanisms already exist to review and, where appropriate, censure judicial behaviour.

Circumventing these established protocols through social media discourse, it warned, not only breaches ethical norms but also risks placing undue pressure on judges who must remain impartial.

The statement also reaffirmed the fundamental principle of the presumption of innocence, which it described as the bedrock of Sri Lanka’s legal system.

Undermining this principle—whether through irresponsible commentary, speculation, or premature judgment—was described as not merely inappropriate but dangerous to democratic governance.

In its concluding remarks, the BASL urged both legal professionals and members of the public to uphold the dignity of the judiciary and to engage in responsible discourse.

It called for restraint in commenting on judicial matters, particularly those that are sub judice, and appealed for a collective commitment to fairness, legality, and institutional respect.

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