Judiciary Functions on the Foundation of the Rule of Law, Says Rajeev Amarasuriya

03-Aug-2026

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President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, Rajeev Amarasuriya, has stated that Sri Lanka's judicial history has always been rooted in democracy and the rule of law, and that the Bar Association has consistently acted to safeguard judicial independence whenever it came under pressure from the Executive.

Delivering the keynote address at the ceremonial sitting marking the 225th anniversary of the Supreme Court, Amarasuriya said the judiciary serves as the ultimate shield protecting citizens whenever individuals stand against the power of the State.

Although governments are formed through representatives elected by the people, he noted that public office and the administration of justice are not symbols of power but institutions founded on public trust and accountability.

He recalled that throughout Sri Lanka's history, the Bar Association has played a leading role in defending judicial independence whenever executive interference threatened the judiciary.

Among the notable instances he cited were the suspension of court proceedings in 1976, the constitutional controversies arising from the Sixth Amendment in 1983, attempts to remove Chief Justice Neville Samarakoon, the impeachment of Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake in 2012, and the constitutional crisis of 2018. In each of these instances, he said, the legal profession stood firmly in defence of the rule of law.