Peaceful protests and freedom of expression including calls for a leader to quit office are entirely legitimate -EX BASL President Saliya Peiris PC

President’s Counsel, Saliya Peiris, immediate outgoing President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), the powerful professional body representing the legal practitioners including judges completed his two-year full tenure proving what an important role could be played by the legal fraternity to uphold democracy, law and order in Sri Lanka. Playing a vital role specially during the troubled period of the ‘Aragalaya’ where people specially youth took to the streets against the major failures by Gotabaya Rajapaksa government, the BASL under the baton of Mr. Peiris intervened at different intervals so that smooth transition of power from Rajapaksa to Ranil Wickremesinghe was ensured. It was the BASL President who first urged the leaders of the Aragalaya to handover public buildings once Gotabaya officially gave up his presidency leaving next leader to be appointed according to the Constitution. 

Started as a state prosecutor attached to the Attorney General’s Department, 
Saliya Peiris, practices in the areas of criminal law, public law and the fundamental rights in the Appeal Court and the Supreme courts. From 2018 to 2020 he served as the founding Chairman of the Office on Missing Person, an institution established as part of country’s much needed reconciliation mechanism and he was also a member of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka from 2015 to 2018.

 Having graduated in law from the Open University of Sri Lanka, Mr. Peiris holds a Master’s Degree in International Business Law from the University of London. He is an Eisenhower Fellow and also an alumnus of the Dealing with the Past (DwP) Programme, Switzerland and IVLP, USA.  

Describing his role as the BASL President from Narch 27 2021 to March 25, 2023, the renowned Indian newspaper ‘The Hindu’ reported “Under his leadership since 2021, the BASL’s public profile has drawn attention, for being resolute. Devoid of ambiguity and political rhetoric, its statements speak to immediate and specific concerns, basing itself on Constitutional freedoms, national laws, and leading judgments.”

In a backdrop where those in politics and affiliated to party politics have hurled criticism, Daily Mirror spoke to Mr. Peiris, to discuss about his role specially during the period of the ‘Aragalaya’ and thereafter. Excerpts;