HRCSL condemns attack on JSC secretary

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, observes that the attack on Judicial Services Commission Secretary Manjula Tillekaratne, must necessarily be condemned without any reservation and expresses the Commission's serious concern in this regard, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka said in a statement.

The implication of this attack spreads far beyond the normal scope of an infringement of the personal safety of an individual as it could have adverse repercussions on the judiciary of the country.

Further, it contravenes a basic principle of the concept of democracy that the three repositories of state power - the legislative, executive and judiciary should be accorded full and equal respect at all times. Should public confidence relating to the independence of the judiciary be affected, it would tend to weaken the rule of law and adversely affect the principles of democracy in any society specially in the post war context, where the need for trust and unity among ethnic groups is accorded high national priority. It is imperative that such incidents do not occur and should they continue to occur, the resultant investigations should be both speedy and impartial.

The onus of producing suspects before the law lies firmly upon the Police; while prevention of such atrocities which weaken the prevalence of rule of law, nationally, becomes the responsibility of all.