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Conduct of handful of rotten judges led to erosion of public faith in judiciary, says Justice Minister

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1 year ago

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Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapaksha

Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapaksha told Parliament on Wednesday that unethical conduct of a handful of judges had led to erosion of public faith in the judiciary.Speaking after SLPP-dissident Kurunegala District MP Dayasiri Jayasekera raised a privilege issue, Dr. Rajapaksha said that the conduct of some judges had raised concerns and some people blamed him and the government for not acting against such judges with questionable conduct.

“The judges are expected to conduct as per the Latin maxim, Fiat Justitia ruat caelum, which means that ‘Let justice be done though the heavens fall’. There is a serious situation prevailing with regard to the judges in this country right now. Whenever a case is filed the first question the lawyers and other counsels ask in the Chambers is who the judge is. If the judge is not to their liking, they consider the options of whether they could file the same case in another court. There are some instances where the clients of certain lawyers announce in public the judgement to be delivered by the judges on the following date. There are some lawyers who assure the clients of getting certain judgements from the judges and they get the same. Such lawyers can get orders from certain courts against the rulings given by some other courts. This is leading towards an unprecedented crisis in the judiciary and legal profession. People question us how such things happen. They go on blaming the government and the Justice Minister for the misdeeds of these judges. We have no control over them.

There was an instance where two investigations confirmed that a Magistrate living in a bungalow next to the Mount Lavinia court had obtained electricity and water illegally. That was uncovered when another judge complained of this illegal act to the Judicial Service Commission. The Commission sent an electrician to look into the matter and the latter almost got electrocuted. He had to be admitted to the ICU to save his life.

There are some other judges who instruct their colleagues to give bail to those who were produced before the courts by the police for narcotic related offences. We have found evidence that irrespective of the quantity of the drugs, some judges impose paltry sums as fines and some have been given bail even without fines.

There was one instance where a stock of whiskey worth over Rs 200 million went missing from the Colombo Magistrate’s Court’s storeroom. There were police and government analyst investigations. Both investigations concluded that there had been no break-in, but the actual keys had been used to take them away. No action has been taken against those who are responsible by the judges for reasons known only to them.

In the same court, it was found by a new Magistrate that the fingerprint machine recording the attendance of court employees had been tampered with. When questioned by the new judge, the employees responded that it had been the known practice and the former judge had approved of it.

Such misconduct is only on the part of a handful of judges, who have brought their profession into disrepute. For example, among us in this House are some corrupt MPs, but all 225 of us have to face public opprobrium. The same goes for judges. This is a very serious matter and we must find solutions for this without further delay because this situation will lead to unintended consequences,” the Minister said.


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Landslide RED warnings continue to be in force for the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara Eliya

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2025/12/6

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The RED Landslide Early Warnings issued  by the Landslide Early Warning Center of the National Building Research Organization [NBRO]  to the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara Eliya have been extended until 1600hrs today [06th December 2025]. Landslide Early warnings have also been issued to the districts of  Badulla, Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Kalutara, Matara, Monaragala and Ratnapura,

Accordingly,
LEVEL III RED warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Gangawata Korale, Deltota, Doluwa, Thumpane, Medadumbara, Minipe, Pathahewaheta, Yatinuwara, Ganga Ihala Korale, Akurana, Udunuwara, Panvila, Pathadumbara, Kundasale, Pasbage Korale, Hatharaliyadda, Ududumbara, Poojapitiya, Harispattuwa and Udapalatha in the Kandy district, Galigamuwa, Kegalle, Mawanella, Rambukkana, Dehiowita, Warakapola,  Deraniyagala, Bulathkohupitiya,  Ruwanwella, Yatiyanthota and Aranayaka in the Kegalle district, Narammala, Mawathagama, Mallawapitiya, Alawwa, Rideegama and Polgahawela in the Kurunegala district, Rattota, Wilgamuwa, Ukuwela, Pallepola, Matale, Laggala Pallegama, Yatawatta, Naula and Ambanganga Korale in the Matale district, and Nildandahinna,  Walapane,  Hanguranketha and  Mathurata in the Nuwara Eliya district.

LEVEL II AMBER warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of  Uva Paranagama, Kandeketiya, Bandarawela, Soranathota, Hali_Ela, Meegahakivula, Badulla, Ella, Haputhale, Lunugala, Welimada, Passara and Haldummulla in the Badulla district, Nuwara Eliya, Ambagamuwa Korale, Thalawakele, Norwood, Kothmale West and Kothmale East in the Nuwara Eliya district, and Kahawaththa, Godakawela and Kolonna in the Ratnapura district.

LEVEL I YELLOW warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Padukka and Seethawaka in the Colombo district, Elpitiya and Yakkalamulla in the Galle district, Mirigama, Attanagalla and Divulapitiya in the Gampaha district, Bulathsinhala, Ingiriya and Horana in the Kalutara  district, Athuraliya and Pasgoda in the Matara district, Bibile and Medagama in the Monaragala district, and Kiriella, Nivithigala, Eheliyagoda, Kuruwita, Kalawana, Pelmadulla, Elapatha, Balangoda, Openayake, Imbulpe, Ayagama, Ratnapura and Kaltota in the Ratnapura district.

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IMF pledges additional aid to Lanka following Cyclone Ditwah destruction

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2 hours ago

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2025/12/6

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Julie Kozack, Director, IMF Communications Department

The International Monetary Fund (IMF), on Thursday, signalled strong solidarity with Sri Lanka in the wake of Cyclone Ditwah, confirming that it is actively exploring options to provide further support for recovery and resilience beyond the existing Extended Fund Facility (EFF).

Julie Kozack, Director of the IMF’s Communications Department, opened her remarks with heartfelt condolences:

“Our deepest sympathies go out to the people of Sri Lanka for the effects of the devastating cyclone. Our hearts mourn the loss of life that has taken place,” she said, extending condolences to other Asian nations also grappling with severe flooding, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

On Sri Lanka, Kozack emphasised that the IMF is closely engaging with authorities, development partners, and counterparts to assess the humanitarian, social, and economic toll of the disaster.

“Large parts of Sri Lanka have been affected by floods, and we expect economic activity to be adversely impacted, in addition to the significant human toll,” she noted.

The IMF is awaiting the completion of a rapid post-disaster damage assessment, led by Sri Lankan authorities, in collaboration with international partners, to better gauge the economic impact.

“We are continuing to support Sri Lanka’s recovery, reform, and resilience under the EFF arrangement. Our staff is looking into options to further support Sri Lanka in the recovery process,” Kozack confirmed.

She reiterated that the Board meeting, scheduled for 15 December, remains on track, following the staff-level agreement on the fifth review reached in October—prior to the cyclone.

“We will provide additional details as the assessment of economic needs and damages moves forward, and as we have more information to inform our thinking around the options,” she added.

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Marrikkar Mohamed Thahir takes oath as SJB National List MP

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2 hours ago

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2025/12/6

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Naina Thambi Marikkar Mohamed Thahir was sworn in as a Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) National List Member of Parliament before Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne yesterday (05).

His appointment follows the resignation of SJB Parliamentarian Muhammathu Ismail Muththu Mohamed, who stepped down from his position on 28 November.

The SJB subsequently nominated Thahir to fill the resulting vacancy.

Accordingly, the Election Commission issued a Gazette Extraordinary declaring Naina Thambi Marikkar Mohamed Thahir a Member of Parliament, in terms of Section 64(5) of the Parliamentary Elections Act, No. 1 of 1981, as amended by Section 6 of the Elections (Special Provisions) Act, No. 35 of 1988.

With the issuance of the gazette, and the subsequent swearing-in, Thahir has officially assumed duties as a National List MP, representing the SJB.

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