Oct 31, Colombo: The Lawyers for Democracy, a representative body of legal practitioners in Sri Lanka, says that they are concerned about the ongoing unprecedented mudslinging campaign and all forms of attacks against the Judiciary.

Issuing a statement yesterday, the organization said the baseless attacks on the judiciary have far reaching and repercussions on the rule of law.

"We are shocked to hear of the contents of the parliamentary debate where there were baseless attacks on the JSC and we are further disturbed at the fact that the parliament has been misled on the appointment of the Secretary of the JSC," the Lawyers for Democracy said.

The External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris has said in parliament that the appointment of Manjula Tilakaratne to the post of Secretary of Judicial Services Commission has violated the Constitution since he was the 30th in the seniority list.

The Lawyers for Democracy convener Lal Wijenayaka n the statement said there is a general apprehension that an impeachment motion is being contemplated targeting the Chief Justice with a view to intimidating her on her judicial pronouncements.

"We consider it as an attack on the independence of the Judiciary and on the Rule of Law. Having regard to the importance of the independence of the Judiciary we unreservedly call upon the government to cease this onslaught on the Judiciary."

"We further express our fullest confidence in the Chief Justice and the JSC and the Judiciary in general. We hope that the public will stand by the Judiciary at this hour of need. We urge that all public conscience citizens to come forward to protect the last bastion of Democracy and Justice," the organization announced.