The Sri Lankan Bar Association (BASL) is up in arms over allegations that the country’s chief justice played a role in an alleged coup to keep the former president Mahinda Rajapakse in office after he suffered an election defeat last week. The Bar Association called upon Mohan Peiris to resign in a statement. ‘It is reiterated and emphasised that it is absolutely essential for the chief justice and members of the judiciary to remain strictly separate and involved in political and executive decisions,’ the association said. The association added: ‘The executive committee of the BASL calls upon Hon. Mohan Peiris to tender his resignation in order to preserve the honour and integrity of the judiciary.’