• Notes need for operations to be within legal framework, for proper probes and presentation of arrestees before courts
• Critical of media spectacles
• To respond to Alles’ claims on lawyers opposing Deshabandu while representing drug suspects for filthy lucre

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) is planning to write to the Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles on the ongoing Islandwide operations conducted by the Police to eliminate drugs and organised crime, and a recent statement made by Alles regarding lawyers, The Daily Morning learns.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (19), BASL President Kaushalya Nawaratne said that they were currently in the process of finalising a letter to be sent to Alles regarding the Islandwide operations carried out by the Police. “What we are going to indicate is that these things must be done well within the framework of the law. The matters must be properly investigated and the arrestees must be properly brought before courts. We hope to explain these matters with the letter, and media shows are not something that we condone,” he said.

He also said that the BASL would also respond to the recent statement made by Alles, claiming that certain lawyers who opposed the appointment of Deshabandu Tennakoon as the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) were now appearing for notorious drug traffickers in related cases, and are earning large sums of money. “The Minister's statement is about the rights of the lawyers. That is also a matter which we will be addressing in the coming days,” said Nawaratne.

The Islandwide operation, which was announced a day in advance, was implemented on the instructions of Alles and Tennakoon. The operation was initiated Islandwide on 17 December with the support of other security forces such as the Army and the Police Special Task Force. During the raids conducted in several provinces, particularly the Western and Southern Provinces, thousands of suspects had been arrested for the possession of drugs, and their involvement in various crimes.

Following the retirement of former IGP Chandana D. Wickramaratne, Tennakoon and Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police Nilantha Jayawardena were tipped to be appointed as the IGP, and the possible appointment of one of them as the IGP saw great criticism from several parties including religious leaders, civil organisations, and political parties. The criticisms were due to allegations against Jayawardena over the Easter Sunday terror attacks of 21 April 2019, and those against Tennakoon were against the said terror attacks, an attack carried out by the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Government supporters on two protest sites on 9 May 2022, and various other matters.