Govt’s first priority to clear backlog of cases in courts – Justice Minister

By Saman Indrajith

The government’s first priority was to clear the backlog of cases pending in courts for years without leaving the task to another government, Justice Minister Ali Sabry told Parliament yesterday.

Minister Sabry said so when SLPP MP Yadmini Gunawardena asked the Minister whether any action was being taken to promptly provide Sinhala translations of judgments delivered in the superior courts.

The Minister said that there was a delay in hearing cases and he would try to provide Sinhala translations of judgments.

MP Gunawardena said that judgments of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal of Sri Lanka were made available only in the English Language. That was in contrast to the provisions of Article 24 (1) of the Constitution.

On Jan 29, 1937, the then Avissawella MP Philip Gunawardena and Ruwanwella MP Dr. N.M. Perera submitted a motion to Parliament, then known as the National State Assembly and it was passed by 34 to 4 votes to ensure that police investigations and court procedures be conducted in the Sinhala Language, too. It was later implemented by J. R. Jayewardene in the 1940s so that the basic police investigations and lower courts conducted their proceedings in the Sinhala language.

Gunawardena said: “But the proceedings of the Supreme Court and the Appeal Court are still in the English Language. The constitutional provision has been suspended by a gazette notification. Can the Minister of Justice take action to remedy this situation so that the court and judicial process will be much closer to the people?”

Minister Sabry said that he was in agreement with the point raised by the MP in principle. “But there are some practical issues such as lack of human resources and technical facilities. We are in a process of enhancing the facilities provided to courts. In that process, it is not easy to find capable translators. Submissions could be made in the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court in any language. I have seen that submissions are made in Sinhala language, but judgments are delivered only in English. I will discuss this matter with the Judicial Service Commission and see whether they could find a solution.”