The assassination of an Attorney-at-Law is not merely a criminal incident. It raises serious concerns about public security and the functioning of constitutional governance. Article 13(3) of the Constitution guarantees every accused person the right to be heard by an Attorney-at-Law at a fair trial. Article 13(5) preserves the presumption of innocence. These protections do not depend on who the accused is or how unpopular the case may be. Sri Lanka is also bound by Article 14(3)(d) of the ICCPR, which recognises the right to legal representation, including where State-supported assistance is required. Access to counsel is a legal safeguard, not a discretionary privilege. In an adversarial system, representation is not endorsement. To blur that distinction undermines the structure of due process itself. More broadly, repeated incidents of targeted violence raise legitimate questions about the State’s constitutional duty to protect life and maintain public order. Public confidence cannot survive if security failures are accompanied by narratives that distract from accountability. This is not about protecting a profession. It is about protecting the integrity of the justice system. The rule of law must operate consistently and not selectively. Delan De Silva Attorney-at-Law Employment & Criminal Law