Public Security Minister Tiran Alles and the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) are embroiled in a heated dispute following controversial remarks made by Alles to a group of Police officers. The BASL has called for Alles’ removal, accusing him of endorsing extrajudicial killings.
In a statement, the BASL criticized Alles for his consistent pattern of reckless and misleading comments, demanding corrective action. Alles sparked outrage by reportedly stating, “Eliminating criminals is not a sin. Don’t be afraid to use the weapon in your hand for the right thing and we stand by you.”
The BASL condemned this statement, arguing it contradicted constitutional principles and established judicial procedures. They emphasized that justice should be administered solely by the courts, through due process and fair trials.
In response, a senior official from Alles’ office threatened to launch a campaign targeting lawyers who oppose the ‘Yukthiya’ operation and represent drug traffickers. However, Public Security Ministry Secretary Viyani Gunathilaka clarified that there were no plans to disclose the names of such lawyers.
