The Lawyers Collective called on the politicians of the former regime to refrain from attempting to cover up their misdeeds by making use of the people's respect for security forces.

The collective made this request in a statement on what it called as the attempts to intimidate police officers conducting the investigations of the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda.

The statement is given below:

‘Lawyers Collective’ views with deep concern the attempt being made to intimidate, by public pronouncements, the police officers conducting investigations into the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda. Previous government did not allow any investigation into the abduction of any journalists and this investigation commenced after the regime change. Lawyers Collective is happy to state that the investigations are steadily progressing.

It is unfortunate that politicians and those who are connected to the military intelligence of the former regime are intimidating the investigators by making baseless allegations that investigations are being targeted at implicating former intelligence officers and certain politicians. Extremist elements headed by the former President Mahinda Rajapakse had recently visited the suspects who are in remand custody.

There is no immunity on intelligence officers or politicians however influential they may be, to commit murder or any other criminal offence on any person, without recourse to due process. If an immunity of this nature is accepted, then it will be a sad day for Rule of Law in our country.

Therefore, we call upon these politicians who are trying to cover up their misdeeds by making use of the respect the people have on the security forces to desist from interfering with criminal investigations which are legally bound to be conducted under law, after the establishment of the independent commissions. We reiterate that the criminal elements should not be permitted to destroy the due administration of justice, when their criminal acts are under investigations. Further, the use of communal slogans to intimidate the highly respected investigators demonstrates the unprincipled character of these politicians who are prepared to stoop to any law level to cover up their misdeeds. Ultimately the verdict will be by Courts of Law which function independently without any political or other influence. Therefore the officers and politicians who are being investigated will enjoy due process, if they are charged before a Court of Law.

Any interference by any party with the proper investigations into criminal offences against any person should not be allowed, if Rule of Law is to be reestablished in Sri Lanka.

Lal Wijenayaka,

Chandrapala Kumarage

K.S. Ratnavale

JC Weliamuna

Conveners of Lawyers Collective