The United National Party (UNP) issued a statement regarding the murder of Attorney-at-Law Buddhika Mallawaarachchi and his wife on Friday, February 13, 2026. The party expressed that this tragic event threatens the integrity of Sri Lanka's legal system, which is the oldest Western-based system in Asia. They emphasized that such violence could significantly harm law and order, which has already been weakened by a series of recent violent killings. The UNP highlighted international cases where the killings of lawyers and frequent death threats have led to the closure of 70% of law offices in a district in Mexico. They also recalled the assassinations of a prosecutor in Ecuador and the President of the Port-au-Prince Bar Association in Haiti. Many lawyers working with cartel leaders have faced threats, and lawyers in British Columbia have also received serious threats, prompting the Law Society of British Columbia to advise its members to contact the police if they are threatened. In Sri Lanka, the UNP pointed out that these murders occurred amid a situation where the Inspector General of Police took sides in a conflict between a lawyer and a police officer before an inquiry was completed. They noted that within two hours after the shooting, the police claimed it was the work of organized criminals without conducting any investigation first. This behavior raises doubts about the police's ability or willingness to investigate, especially given that the police force was heavily influenced by politics last year. The UNP mentioned that similar incidents occurred last year, and they criticized the Minister for not doing enough to stop the rising violence. They expressed concern that the politicization of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) makes it hard to trust that a fair inquiry will take place. Therefore, the United National Party is calling for immediate and strong actions to address these issues.
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