Govt. has taken steps to ensure independence of legal system - Ravinath

Sri Lanka’s legal representative in Geneva, Ravinath Ariyasinghe stated that the government has taken many measures to ensure independence of the Judiciary and the Legislative systems. 

He further added that many measures have been taken by the government that was elected into power in 2015 to ensure independence of the legal system, during the 35th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). 

Furthermore, a report compiled by Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Monica Pinto was also presented at the session, on the Judicial and Legislative systems in the country. 

Ariyasinghe stated that the report compiled by Pinto reflects how the country has adopted many positive rebuilding mechanisms towards protecting the independence of the legal system, and that the 19th amendment made to the constitution gives it predominance over other matters. 

He added that many senior judges, along with members of the Legal and Judiciary committees in the country have been appointed independently. 

Moreover, he stated that although the report compiled by Pinto stated that Court Judges were being influenced and pressured by the government, no such claims have arisen against the new government and that the government has taken steps to ensure the judges security and had given them more power.