Judicial officers perform excellent service to the Nation - Chief Justice

Sarath MALALASEKERA

The Judicial Officers in Sri Lanka can go to any part of the country to perform their duties. They do an excellent service to the nation in all parts of the country.

Therefore their salaries could be increased to suit their ability and the courage, said Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva PC last Friday after opening the Western Province Civil Appellate Court at the newly built Mount Lavinia Courts Complex.

The Chief Justice who was the Chief Guest at the opening ceremony was received at the entrance by the members of the Mount Lavinia Bar and escorted him to the venue by colourful Kandyan dancers and the Police Band.

The Chief Justice earlier inspected a Police parade conducted by Mount Lavinia Senior SP Hemantha Adhikari and Mount Lavinia SP Lalith C. Gunawardena.

The law is equal to all Sri Lankan citizens, when a bomb blast takes place in a city, we should not harass the Tamils. The Police officers’ prime duty should be to maintain the law and order in the country. The Police officers must have a close rapport with the public and treat all communities without any difference to maintain the law and order in the country, the Chief Justice said.

The Chief Justice said the country had suffered owing to the 20-year conflict. But the law is equal for all litigants from Jaffna to all other parts of the country. Sri Lanka has a rich tradition of administration of Justice with a well structured and organised system.

Quoting Deputy Minister Puthrasigamoney’s speech, the Chief Justice said he is an excellent speaker in all three langugages and he is of great assistance to the Judiciary.

Addressing the Police personnel, the Chief Justice said they should not harass Tamil citizens just because they speak Tamil language. Our Mannar Judicial officer is one Prabhakaran, he is an excellent judge treating all citizens that come before him equally. Arrest the terrorists without harassing all the Tamils in the country, he said.

The so-called high ranking Government officers living in “Air Conditioned rooms” in Colombo are attempting to interfere with the Judicial Officers’ salaries. This situation should be removed from the society, the Chief Justice added.

Western Province (South) DIG Chandana Wicremaratne, Mount Lavinia Senior SP Hemantha Adikari, Mount Lavinia SP Lalith C. Gunawardena, ASP Jayatilleke and a special police team of the Mount Lavinia Police Division provided the security.

Justice and Law Reform Deputy Minister V. Puththirasigamoney, Judicial

Service Commission Secretary Chandra Jayatilleke, Justice and Law Reform Ministry Secretary Suhada Gamlath, Judicial Officers and the Senior and Junior members of the Mount Lavinia Bar Association participated.

Mount Lavinia Additional District Judge Ayesha Jayasena, Chief Magistrate Harsha Setunga, Additional Magistrate Darshika Wimalasena and members of the Mount Lavinia Courts also participated at the ceremony.