When inquired, President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) Geoffrey Alagaratnam said they were against the clause that was suggested in the amended Act that a suspect after being detained, should obtain legal assistance after recording the first statement.

He pointed out that there was no point in obtaining legal assistance after making the first statement and that it was a fundamental right of every citizen to obtain legal assistance right from the beginning of the investigation process.

The attempt to deny the right of lawyers to assist suspects who are in custody, on the pretext of bringing in amendments to the criminal code provisions has come under criticism of human rights organisations.