Witness protection laws before Parliament soon

Manjula FERNANDO

COLOMBO: Special laws to protect witnesses of highly sensitive investigations and cases will be brought before Parliament shortly.

Human Rights and Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe yesterday said the Law Commission has already put out the second draft containing new witness protection laws, in consultation with various State actors and it was now being reviewed by the Ministry’s advisory Committee to add in their inputs.

“We hope to bring this law before Parliament very shortly.”

He said they wanted to give top priority to ensure that the ‘investigations that have commenced in respect of various Human Rights violations are concluded in a successful manner.’ Public cooperation is essential to ensure the successful conclusion of ongoing inquiries.

The only way to get their support is to have a proper protection scheme backed by strong legal framework to guarantee the witnesses are well looked after during and after the probes. He said this was the objective of the new Bill.

The Advisory Committee will meet next week to finalise the draft law, that will be constituted in the Sri Lankan legal framework for the first time. International Monitors Led by Justice Bhagawati who are observing the work of the Presidential Commission on Inquiry, investigating 16 selected Human rights cases, also pointed out the lapse of not having a proper legal backing to protect the witnesses in these highly sensitive cases.