Combating corruption and fraud and protecting the rule of law are the two most important aspects of the mandate received by the National People’s Power (NPP), Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said.
“In order to bring about economic and social transformation in the country, the rule of law is fundamentally necessary. The independence of the judiciary must be secured,” he said.
The Minister was speaking to the media after officially assuming duties at the Justice Ministry, on Tuesday (19).
Minister Nanayakkara said that there is a perception in society that the judicial system has been politicized in the past. He said that one of the most important tasks at hand is to once again establish public confidence in the judicial system by establishing a Justice Ministry, an Attorney General’s Department, and a Police service that have won the trust of the people.
The Minister said that if the ruler of the country acts in an exemplary manner and acts in accordance with the law, the people will also respect the law, which was not the case in the past.
“Certain ordinances and laws should be updated after discussion. The main factor in the public mandate that the NPP received is to establish the rule of law. The Minister and the politician have a role and a limit to their power. They must also be subject to the law. All of you who are public servants have contributed through your votes at the General Election, more than 80 percent to the NPP. There is a law and a Constitution in this country. Everyone must be subject to it. We do not bring new laws and regulations arbitrarily.”
The Minister also stated that the laws will be drafted after discussions with the necessary parties. He said that the delay in court cases is due to the weaknesses in the judicial system where the client is not provided with the necessary service. The judiciary needs facilities in order to minimise the delays. Necessary solutions to the delay in cases should be brought in after discussions.
Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe, PC, Colombo District MPs Sunil Watagala and Susantha Dodawatte, Justice Ministry Additional Secretary (Administration) Rohana Hapugaswatte, and other high-ranking officials of the Ministry were present.
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