COLOMBO – United States Ambassador Julie Chung urged the Sri Lanka’s legal community to be a strong and steady force for the rule of law & justice for all.
She made the statement while speaking as the Guest of Honour at the 2023 edition of the National Law Conference, the most prestigious event of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, in Colombo on Sunday (12).
She further pointed out that the US supports strengthening Sri Lanka’s justice sector based on democratic principles, including the importance of independent judiciary.
She also said the Local Government Elections are ‘critical’ for Sri Lanka, stated
“Democracies are understrained across the globe and no democracy stands without the rule of law. You, all of you are the guardians of that precious rule” the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka stated.
“The United States support for the rights of everyday Sri Lankans to voice their concerns peacefully and participate in their government is unwavering,” Ms. Chung further explained.
The US Ambassador to Sri Lanka stated Sri Lanka’s “proud history of free elections underpins those rights”.
“Giving citizens the ability to advocate directly to the government in partnership with civil society organisations and through qualified legal representation in an independent judiciary. That’s why local government elections, we have been discussing, are so critical” she said.