Former Defence Minister and President’s Counsel Tilak Marapana today told that over 15,000 of the country’s legal fraternity (lawyers) are at risk.

He made this statement while condemning the way law enforcement handled the death threats received by Sri Lanka Bar Association President Upul Jayasooriya.

“Receiving death threats against the head of the BASL is not merely a threat to a person called Upul Jayasooriya but a threat tom over 15,000 members of the country’s legal fraternity,” he added.

Tilak Marapana further told that BASL president’s life has been under threat as he intervened in several public interest matters.

He said that if any harm should come to his life, it should be considered as a harm done to the entire legal fraternity of the country.

He maintained that police could have deployed police personnel for the safety of BASL President in accordance with the section 22 of the Police Ordinance without referring such a matter to the secretary of Law and Order Ministry.