Sri Lanka, Sept. 17 -- The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) says it is "deeply disturbed" at the reports of the alleged criminal conduct on the part of former State Minister of Prisons Management and Prisoners' Rehabilitation Affairs Lohan Ratwatte.

In a statement issued on Thursday (Sep. 16), the BASL questioned the eligibility of Ratwatte to hold on office in the government any longer.

Following the breakout of the reports of his recent conduct at the Welikada and Anuradhapura prisons where he caused a commotion in drunken state, Ratwatte stepped down as the Prisons State Minister but he continues to serve as the State Minister of Gem and Jewellery-related Industries.

The allegations that Ratwatte forcibly entered the prisons at W...