The President and members of
the Bar Association of Sri Lanka
Distinguished Guests
My dear friends,
My first is a word of regret, that
due to the prevailing circumstances I am unable to be
present with you in person, at the inauguration of the
National Law Week. However, I thought of addressing
you even from this distance, because your cause is very
close to my heart.
As a member of the legal profession,
I consider it a privilege to address you on the inauguration
of the National Law Week.
I appreciate the initiative of the
President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, Mr. Nihal
Jayamanne P. C., in organizing the National Law Week.
It is with pleasure that my Government has extended
patronage to this important and pioneering event.
I am glad that the activities during
this week are intended to promote greater understanding
of the Law, our Legal System and the Legal Profession,
within our community.
It is significant that the theme
of the National Law Week is “Facilitating Access
to Justice”, or the process of taking the law
to the people. This is a matter of great importance
today because it is a key aspect in strengthening democracy
in our country. It is, therefore, a concept that is
timely and necessary.
Bringing the people closer to the
law is the best way of strengthening the Rule of Law.
It also helps in the people having respect for the law…through
an understanding of the law and how it is administered.
I notice that there are many activities
organized for the National Law Week. This includes Educational
Programmes and activities that focus on many issues
in that cover a wide area of law.
My dear friends,
As professionals in the field of
law, and those working closely with the law and its
enforcement, you are no doubt aware of the importance
of giving our people a proper understanding of the law,
and how to access it. Such knowledge can give the people
the confidence to protect their interests through the
law. It will also empower the people with a true knowledge
of their rights, duties and privileges under the law.
I am particularly pleased that the
activities in this programme include an Awareness Campaign
with regard to Women’s Rights, together with help
for Women in Need. It is unfortunate that today there
is a very wide area in which our women are made to feel
distant from, and even oppressed by the law. This is
a situation that needs to be changed. Our women should
be strengthened and empowered by the law. Your efforts
in this regard are truly commendable.
Another welcome aspect of the activities
of the National Law Week are the programmes on Human
Rights. This includes Human Rights Awareness for members
of the Armed Forces, the Police, the Prisons, and University
Students. I am glad that the Centre for Study of Human
Rights of the University of Colombo has joined hands
with the BASL to conduct these programmes. This is most
encouraging at a time when Human Rights is becoming
increasingly important in many areas of governance,
as well as political and social activity.
It is evident that a great deal of
planning and hard work has gone into organizing the
National Law Week. The Bar Association of Sri Lanka,
and other organizations working with it to make this
week a success, deserve all commendation.
The efforts of the organizers will
help open a new chapter in increasing awareness of the
law among our people. This is a truly salutary goal.
I wish to congratulate the organizers
of the National Law Week, and wish it all success. May
this be the beginning of many more useful activities
to bring the people closer to the law, and help them
obtain easy access to the law.
Thank you.
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