News
Judiciary commits to taking digitalisation agenda forward
The Annual Conference of Judicial Officers 2025 commenced on Saturday gathering over 200 Magistrates and District Court Judges from across the nation. This year’s conference focuses on the timely theme, ‘Advancing Judicial Efficiency and Effectiveness in the Digital Era’, a topic of urgent relevance as the country rebuilds and adapts in the wake of the disaster. The commitment of Sri Lanka’s judicial leadership to harness technology for addressing critical gaps in the justice system has never been more vital, especially as communities and institutions work together to overcome the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah.
The opening ceremony was attended by distinguished guests including Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena; Members of the Judicial Service Commission Justice Mahinda Samayawardhena and Justice S. Thurairajah; Charge’ d’ affaires, High Commission of Canada in Sri Lanka, Kiril Iordanov and Resident Representative for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka, Azusa Kubota. Key resource persons for the conference includes the Former Chief Justice of India, Dr. Dhananjaya Chandrachud; Justice Aidan Xu from the High Court of Singapore; and Director General of the CIABOC, Judge Ranga Dissanayake.
Over the next two days, the conference will address key priorities, including the integration of digital solutions to enhance judicial processes, with the aim of increasing access to justice for vulnerable victims including victim survivors of Sexual and Gender-based Violence and the role of judiciary in combating corruption—initiatives made possible through UNDP’s ongoing collaboration with the Government of Canada and anti-corruption efforts supported by the Government of Japan. Together, these efforts signal a decisive step towards a more resilient, effective, and inclusive justice system for all Sri Lankans.
The Colombo Stock Exchange (GL 12) has contributed LKR 25 million to the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund.
The cheque was handed over to the Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake by the Chairman of the Colombo Stock Exchange, Dimuthu Abeyesekera, the Chief Executive Officer Rajeeva Bandaranaike and Senior Vice Chairman Kusal Nissanka at the Presidential Secretariat.
News
Karu argues against scrapping MPs’ pension as many less fortunate members entered Parliament after ’56
Former Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya has written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressing concerns over the proposed abolition of MPs’ pensions.The letter was sent in his capacity as Patron of the Former Parliamentarians’ Caucus.
In his letter, Jayasuriya noted that at the time of Sri Lanka’s independence, political participation was largely limited to an educated, affluent land-owning elite. However, he said a significant social transformation took place after 1956, enabling ordinary citizens to enter politics.
He warned that under current conditions, removing parliamentary pensions would effectively confine politics to the wealthy, business interests, individuals engaged in illicit income-generating activities, and well-funded political parties. Such a move, he said, would discourage honest social workers and individuals of modest means from entering public life.
Jayasuriya also pointed out that while a small number of former MPs, including himself, use their pensions for social and charitable purposes, the majority rely on the pension as a primary source of income.
He urged the President to give due consideration to the matter and take appropriate action, particularly as the government prepares to draft a new constitution.The Bill seeking to abolish pensions for Members of Parliament was presented to Parliament on 07 January by Minister of Justice and National Integration Dr. Harshana Nanayakkara.
Five suspects, including former Minister Johnston Fernando and his two sons, who were arrested by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID), were further remanded until 30 January by the Wattala Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
The former Minister’s , sons Johan Fernando and Jerome Kenneth Fernando, and two others, were arrested in connection with the alleged misuse of a Sathosa vehicle during Fernando’s tenure as Minister.
Investigations are currently underway into the alleged misuse of state property, including a lorry belonging to Lanka Sathosa, which reportedly caused a significant financial loss to the state.
In connection with the same incident, Indika Ratnamalala, who served as the Transport Manager of Sathosa during
Fernando’s tenure as Minister of Co-operatives and Internal Trade, was arrested on 04 January.
After being produced before the Wattala Magistrate’s Court, he was ordered to be remanded in custody until 09 January.The former Sathosa Transport Manager was remanded on charges of falsifying documents.
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