Good relationship between Police, Judiciary essential - Justice Amaratunga

Sarath MALALASEKERA

The seminar on "Motor Traffic Act and Criminal Negligence" is a very important one to educate Police personnel in respect of conducting prosecutions before courts in respect of traffic offences, said Supreme Court Judge Justice Nimal Gamini Amaratunga addressing the seminar at the Waters Edge recently.

Chief Justice Dr. Shirani A Bandaranayake was the chief guest at the seminar.

Supreme Court Judge Justice SI Imam, Judicial Service Commission Secretary (JSC) Gopallwa, JSC Deputy Secretary Manjula Tilakaratne, Senior Attorney, UNDP Co-ordinator Udaya Rohan de Silva, Senior DIG Asoka Wijetilake, Police Legal Division DIG Gamini Dissanayake and UNDP representative were at the head table.

A good relationship between the Police and the Judiciary is very essential to maintain law and order in the country. Justice Amaratunga said. Quoting several instances including a murder in the Akuressa Police area, Justice Amaratunga said that the Police officers who conduct the investigations should abide by the law and produce the suspects before courts with the relevant investigation reports.

'To prove a case beyond reasonable doubt, the assistance of Police officers is very essential for the Judiciary, Justice Amaratunge added.

Colombo Traffic Court Magistrate J. Trotsky also addressed the seminar.

Around 150 judicial officers, including District Judges and Magistrates, about 160 senior and junior Police officers and around 50 Court Registrars also participated at the seminar.

Western Province Senior DIG Asoka Wijetilake said that about 2,439 fatal accidents had occurred during last year including 110 accidents in Anuradhapura, 91 accidents in Chilaw, 136 in Gampaha, 85 in Kandy, 79 in Kegalle, 129 in Kelaniya and 80 in the Mount Lavinia police areas. Several group sessions and Panel discussions were held after the seminar.