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Kuliyapitiya's example 'special fund' will be expanded to courts islandwide - CJ Sarath N. Silva

by Kuliyapitiya group correspondent

Kuliyapitiya's example of initiating special funds for buying resources for the courts will be expanded to all the courts in the island, the Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva said speaking at a ceremony held at Kuliyapitiya MC.

This ceremony was held to mark the distribution of office equipment and other resources bought from a special fund Kuliyapitiya MC initiated in 1994 to Kuliyapitiya DC and MC.

The Chief Justice added that the courts would earn a large amount of funds for the Government, Provincial Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas, but the courts would get only a little out of them. The necessary funds for maintenance repairs and to buy necessary resources for the courts should have to be obtained from the Ministry of justice. That would be a long term process.

He said with an interest free subsidy loan of dollars 20 millions obtained from the World Bank a project of reconstruction of the courts was commenced under three phases.

The first phase is the reconstruction of courts complexes down to Tangalle from Colombo. The works of that phase is almost over. The second phase is the courts from Colombo to Badulla. The works of that phase is already commenced. The third phase will be the courts north of Colombo upto Anuradhapura. The reconstruction works of Kuliyapitiya DC will commence on June 2003.

The reconstruction of the courts complexes under this project are done by a development committee of each complex. A senior judge, a senior lawyer and a senior officer of the courts staff will be in that committee. That committee has to decide on the reconstruction plan and implement that. The World Bank observers who had come to supervise the project were satisfied with the functions of these development committees.

The Kuliyapitiya example is a novel concept. It had proved that the collective effort of the judges, lawyers and the courts staff could build up the judiciary without being a burden to the Government. That is initiation of a special fund by the courts and utilise the same for the development of the courts by a committee of judges, lawyers and the staff. I have suggested to the successive Governments on initiation of special funds for the courts to buy necessities for the courts.

The governments came and went but my suggestion remained unattended. However the Kuliyapitiya MC had initiated that fund way back in 1994. This example will be expanded throughout the country, so that the courts will be able to buy the necessities without depending on the government.

The judiciary is the only government institution that functions throughout the country from South to North. The people have realised the power of the judiciary is supreme now. So they flock in the courts in hundreds seeking the administration of justice. They should be provided with necessary facilities.

Kuliyapitya District Judge Ranjtih Wathupola, Additional District Judge Jagath A. Kahandagamage, the magistrate Rohana Jayawardhana, Chairman Kuliyapitiya Bar Association Oliver M. J. Perera and the Secretary J. M. Gunathilaka also spoke.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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