The President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), Anura Meddegoda, has come under intense criticism for his role in the Attorney General’s decision to release and later reverse the release of key suspects in the murder case of journalist Lasantha Wickramatunga.
Meddegoda has been accused of double standards for appearing on behalf of Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe, who initially ordered the release of three main suspects in the 2009 assassination of The Sunday Leader editor. Critics point out that Meddegoda had previously opposed the Attorney General’s similar actions in another murder case involving one of his own clients but remained silent in the Wickramatunga case.
The Attorney General’s controversial directive, issued on January 27, 2025, to release the suspects, triggered public outrage and widespread protests. Amidst growing pressure, the Attorney General’s Department reversed the decision on February 11. However, the sudden reversal of the order has raised concerns about the integrity of the legal process and political interference in high-profile cases.
The incident has also drawn international attention, with human rights organizations monitoring the case for possible inclusion in a report on Sri Lanka at the next United Nations Human Rights Council session in Geneva.
Meanwhile, Lasantha Wickramatunga’s daughter, Ahimsa Wickramatunga, has sent a four-page letter to Anura Meddegoda, strongly condemning his actions. She accused him of hypocrisy, stating that while he objected to the Attorney General’s conduct in a different case, he remained silent when the same actions benefited his own legal position in the Wickramatunga case.
“When the Attorney General sabotaged an investigation into the murder of one of your clients, you called it an ‘obstruction of justice’ and demanded an executive review. Why did the Bar Association remain silent when you obtained it?” she questioned.
Ahimsa Wickramatunga also challenged the role of the BASL in the matter, raising concerns about the Bar Association’s stance on judicial integrity and accountability.
So far, neither the Bar Association of Sri Lanka nor its President, Anura Meddegoda, has responded to these allegations. However, reports suggest that Meddegoda will not be contesting the upcoming BASL presidential election scheduled for next Wednesday.
