(COLOMBO) – Sri Lanka’s Public Security Minister Tiran Alles has come under serious criticism for remarks that encouraged extra-judiciary killings by the police and security forces .
First to condemn the remarks was the President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) Attorney Kaushalya Nawaratne who said it was a very serious statement made by the country’s Public Security Minister who called on the eliminating of underworld and drug operatives on sight.
Nawaratne was also furious at the Minister’s remarks on lawyers who appear for drug barons.
It is an accepted practice that lawyers in the nature of their profession could appear for any suspect, he said
His concerns were echoed by the ex-BASL President Saliya Pieris who said that the encouragement of extra judicial killings by any Minister or official cannot be condoned.
Minister Tiran Alles at a recent meeting warned all underworld and drug operatives to surrender or face death by police ahead of a special anti-vice and crime operation to be launched throughout the island.
