Video link makes history in Commercial Court
Sarath MALALASEKERA
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The Colombo Commercial High Court created judicial history
yesterday by recording evidence from an overseas witness through
the video conferencing facility. Here Commercial High Court
Judge K.T. Chitrasiri hearing the evidence given by John Samson,
a US citizen from New York under cross examination by Defence
Counsel M.U.M. Ali Sabry. Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva, PC,
Judges of the Court of Appeal and members of this Bar were also
present to witness the event. Picture by Saman Sri Wedage
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For the first time in the history of Sri Lankan Judiciary a "Video
Conversation" with a witness in the United States was recorded yesterday
before the Western Province Commercial High Court Judge K. T. Chitrasiri
in a civil case.
The witness John G. Sampson, a leading Businessman of USA, the Vice
President of New Direx, 239, Laurel Road, East Northport, New York, USA
gave evidence through the Video Conferencing link for nearly two hours.
Sampson was examined by his Senior Counsel Chandana Jayasundera and
Cross-examined by the Plaintiff's Senior Counsel M.U.M. Ali Sabry.
The Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva PC, speaking on this historic
occasion, after recording the evidence of John Sampson, said raising the
standard of the Commercial High Court is very important to the country's
judiciary.
This new technology introduced to the Judiciary is the beginning of a
new era, when we are nearly ending the protracted war. The new system
will save the time and the cost of a witness to travel to Sri Lanka from
abroad to give evidence, the Chief Justice said. "The new system is a
boon to the Bar to dispose their cases without any delay. The members of
the Sri Lanka Bar Association should assist to maintain the high
standards of the judiciary with the new technology," the Chief Justice
emphasised. The Chief Justice paid a tribute to Commercial High Court
Judge K. T. Chitrasiri and Commercial High Court Judge Rohini Walgama
for great assistance given to introduce the new "Video Conferencing"
system in courts.M.U.M. Ali Sabry with Sanjeewa Dassanayake instructed
by M.I.M. Ishar appeared for the plaintiff while Chandana Jayasundera
with Siventa Gunasekera instructed by Kumari Dassanayake appeared for
the defendants.
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