The Police has allowed the lawyers who appearing for the suspects spending times in jail for failing to furnish bail, to use their Identity Cards issued by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) as the curfew pass on 2nd and 3rd of April 2020.
The BASL President Kalinga Indatissa PC announced that in terms of the Circular issued by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) a few Court houses (Magistrate's Courts and High Courts) will be opened for limited work on 2nd and 3rd of April 2020.
'Mostly the work will be limited to bail applications and more specifically to matters falling under Release of Remand Prisoners Act No 8 of 1991 where Bail has been ordered but the suspects spend time in jail as they dont have the capacity to furnish Bail', the BASL President said.
The BASL had requested the IGP to recognize the BASL Identity Card as a curfew pass during this period since the suspects are required legal representation especially with regard to bail applications of an urgent nature.
The police has allowed for the request on the following lines.
1. A member must be in the official attire at the point of travelling. The Coat must be available.
2. The details of the journey such as the place of Residence and the Court must be informed to the Police upon request.
3. The BASL Identity Card will be accepted as a curfew pass.
4. The NIC also will be accepted provided that the NIC states that the member is an Attorney at Law.
5. The arrangement will be valid for a reasonable time after the conclusion of the court work of a particular Court.
The BASL President announced this arrangement will be for the 2nd and 3rd of April and the same mechanism could be adopted on other days where Court work will take place in the future.
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