Lawyers of Sri Lanka protesting attack on judge hold mock funeral for judicial independence

Hundreds of Sri Lankan lawyers protesting the attack on the Secretary of Judicial Service Commission (JSC) by an unidentified group held a mock funeral to mark the death of the judicial independence in the country.
The protesters carrying placards and chanting slogans carried a coffin and set it on fire in front of the Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court in the premises of the Hulftsdorp court complex to mourn the death of the independence of the judiciary. The protesting lawyers held placards that read: "Hands off Judiciary", Stand up to protect judiciary", "Unite against Oppression." Elsewhere lawyers across the country staged protests in front of the relevant court premises condemning the attack and urging the authorities to arrest the attackers. Unidentified attackers have stabbed High Court judge and the Secretary of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), Manjula Tilakaratne yesterday at the Hotel Road area in Mount Lavinia while he was in his car. Meanwhile, Justice Tilakaratne, who had been stabbed at least three times and admitted to the Colombo National Hospital yesterday, has been released from the hospital today. The government strongly condemned the attack on the Judge and President Mahinda Rajapaksa ordered the Inspector general of Police (IGP) to conduct an immediate investigation into the attack. The JSC Secretary last month said that that the lives of his and his family are threatened due to a statement he issued on September 18 stating that the Judiciary Services Commission has come under interference from the executive. The President dismissed the allegation that the judiciary is unduly influenced by the executive and asserted that there is no political interference of any kind on the country's judiciary. -->