Recently the Public Security Minister Tiran Alles slandered and threatened that lawyers are representing drug traffickers.
The Bar Association also issued a statement against Tiran’s slander and threats.

Alles said that criminals and drug traffickers have been able to escape from the country because lawyers help them to get bail. Lawyers apply for bail on behalf of their clients, but bail is granted by the respective court. Tiran points the finger not only at the lawyers but also to the courts.

It is not the lawyers but the police of Alas who are fully responsible for the escape of criminals and drug traffickers from the country.

Lawyer Nalin Ladduwahetti, who appeared for drug lords Harak Kata and Panadure Salindu, also appeared for Tiran. In 2010, Ladduwahetti appeared for Lanka e News website editor Bennett Rupasingha when he was arrested on false charges. Bennett was falsely accused and arrested by the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime. Legally, a lawyer has the right to represent any suspect arrested by the police. The lawyer has a professional right to represent every suspect, apart from his personal moral reasons.

The President’s counsel Romesh Silva also appeared for Gampola Vidanaarachchi Samantha Kumara alias Velesuda, whom the police alaim is a drug kingpin. In the case filed before the Supreme Court challenging the appointment of Inspector General Deshabandu Tennakon to the post of Inspector General of Police, the President’s counsel Romesh De Silva represented Tennakon.

One could argue that this creates a conflict of interest when Romesh de Silva is representing IGP Thainnakon.

The so-called justice operation launched by the President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s government has arrested people indiscriminately and illegally, killing them and imprisoning them on false charges. Tiran Alles and Tennakoon, who were angry because the lawyers opposed this, started to slander and threaten the lawyers claiming they are appearing for the drug dealers.

This is where Tiran Alles’s and Tennakon’s argument falls flat. Tiran uses the twisting theory of making Kabaragoya as a Thalagoya.

Tiran Alles insults and threatens the entire legal community, alleging they are appearing for the underworld and drug dealers. In such a case, lawyers should refuse to represent such rogues who are power-mad and oppress the public.

Tiran was accused of embezzling public funds through the Rada scam during the war and later released by the court.

The dignity of the legal profession is more valuable than money and friendship. If you don’t want that kind of respect, we don’t need to protect you.