Country undergoing rapid development - Justice Wanasundera

Sarath MALALASEKERA

Our country, at present, is undergoing development in all areas at a rapid pace. Sri Lanka is into the fourth year after ending the conflict which lasted for over three decades. At present, various development projects are being carried out throughout the country, said new Supreme Court Judge Justice Shanthi Eva Wanasundera.

She was speaking at the ceremonial sitting of the Supreme Court.

Justice Wanasundera said work towards development usually generates civil disputes in abundance. Complex legal issues are sure to arise due to the veracity of agreements involved. There will be more commercial disputes which might even involve international trade law, she said.

"There will be many original court judgments which will come up in appeal from one court to another and finally end up in the apex court," she added.

Justice Wanasundera said: "Judging is the core word for any sitting judge. Quoting Justice H N G Fernando, she said: "A judge should have an attentive and receptive ear, a mind open to conviction, a readiness to acknowledge error and a will resolved to do justice regardless of personal motives and prejudices".

Justice Wanasundera emphasised that under our system of justice, the Bench and the Bar are components of one unit. The impairment of one inevitably affects the other, she pointed out.

She said: "I worked in the Attorney General's department for over 32 years before taking oaths as a Judge of the Supreme Court on July 5. I am happy to be a Supreme Court Judge today but I am sad to have left my second home, the Attorney General's Department. My career as government servant started with the post of temporary state counsel in1979 and ended as Attorney General in 2011. I have changed from the role of a public servant to the role of a member of the Judiciary. I have worked with diligence, honestly and dedication. I shall continue to work in the same way in my new role," Justice Wanasundera said.