Attorney-at-Law Nimal Ranasinghe stated that the law is currently being actively enforced against economic criminals, political opportunists, drug kingpins, and underworld syndicates following the election of the present government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking at a press conference organized by Lawyers for National People’s Power (NPP) in Colombo on August 26, Attorney Ranasinghe noted that groups currently attacking the judiciary had previously orchestrated slander campaigns against investigative bodies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Highlighting the pattern of attacks on state institutions, Attorney Ranasinghe stated:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“After the present government assumed power, law enforcement began targeting economic criminals, political rogues, drug barons, and underworld gangs. The same groups criticizing the government today previously led mudslinging campaigns against the CID and the Bribery Commission, defaming officials and their families. Now that those cases have reached the courts, they have begun attacking the judiciary itself, targeting the Chief Justice, judges, and their family members.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He further drew historical parallels, emphasizing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Legacy of Attacks on the Judiciary: He recalled that predecessors of those currently defaming the Chief Justice and the Supreme Court were responsible for stoning judges’ residences when they were in power, as well as assaulting intellectuals and religious leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Questioning BASL’s Silence: Ranasinghe strongly criticized the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) for failing to defend the Chief Justice against personal attacks while actively opposing the 22nd Constitutional Amendment even before its formal publication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Call for Institutional Responsibility: As a life member of the BASL, he questioned whether current office-bearers endorse these defamatory attacks and urged the association to publicly oppose the abuse of parliamentary privileges used to slander judicial officers who cannot publicly defend themselves.<\/p>\n