Corruption and Abuse of Human Rights: Threats and Attacks on a Human Rights Defender

J.C. Weliamuna: Executive Director of Transparency International in Sri Lanka and a human rights lawyer

[Introduction]

In Sri Lanka the legal profession is very much a threatened profession. The recent grenade attack on September 27 on the residence of senior lawyer, Mr. J.C. Weliamuna, once again brought to the notice of everyone how much the profession has been undermined and how easy it is to attack lawyers. Almost a month has passed since the attack and there have been no arrests. Mr. Weliamuna had to leave his home and move to a safe house where he has to take enormous precautions for the security of himself and his family. This is despite of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka holding a general meeting to condemn the attack and their call upon the government to ensure immediate enquiries. Besides this there was a protest in the streets by lawyers and civil society. At the international level almost all major organisations dealing with human rights, anti corruption and democracy intervened with the government asking it to ensure effective investigations.

The weakening of the legal profession is a byproduct of political change in the country. The executive has acquired enormous power to the detriment of the rule of law and the legitimacy of the public institutions. The entire legal process in Sri Lanka which was based on due process principles has been severely suppressed. As part of the ever increasing power of the executive the police, the secret services and the military have acquired powers which conflict with the rule of law and due process.

 Click here to download the complete dossier for the case of J.C. Weliamuna.