BASL unaware of recruiting lawyers to police service

COLOMBO (News1st): The proposal to recruit 150 lawyers to the police service as chief inspectors must be examined carefully, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has said. BASL president Kalinga Indatissa, a President's Counsel, said the lawyers' body had not been informed about the proposal, and insisted that all relevant parties must be consulted. Indatissa, drawing evolution on criminal activities especially digital crimes had appreciated the justice minister for introducing new laws and making timely amendments to existing laws. But he added that the recruitment of 150 lawyers as Chief Police Inspectors would adversely impact the dignity and independence of the legal profession. The BASL president pointed out that graduate is recruited as an assistant superintendent and that lawyers too should be recruited based on the same criterion. He cautioned that not doing so would stir up a plethora of issues when granting promotions. The BASL noted that establishing a separate legal department for prosecutions should be established if the assistance of lawyers is required by the police service.