President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has stated that decisions delivered by the judiciary represent the authoritative interpretation of the law and that the government will abide by all such rulings.
He stressed that there was no point in expecting him to make decisions contrary to those delivered by the courts.
The President made these remarks while addressing the Badulla District Women’s Conference today (18).
Speaking further, President Dissanayake said the judiciary has the final say in determining matters of law.
He emphasised that once the Supreme Court delivers a ruling, demanding that it be withdrawn through protests and public outcry would serve no purpose, adding that the rule of law cannot be maintained in such a manner.
He also stated that the relevant institutions had been granted the full authority necessary to enforce the law.
Pointing out that future generations cannot be secure in a country where equality before the law is absent, the President stressed that everyone must be equal before the law. He added that legal action was now being taken even against individuals who had previously believed they were beyond its reach.
The President further stated that the country’s outdated and uniform education system must be transformed to produce creative children capable of meeting the demands of the world’s most competitive labour markets.
He said schools had been provided with the necessary technological support and that these efforts would be expanded further. More than 6,000 schools have already been connected to high-speed fibre-optic networks, he added.
Meanwhile, President Dissanayake said the spread of narcotics and underworld activities had resulted from the breakdown of law and order, with such activities having been sustained through political patronage.
He stated that his government would not allow such practices to continue and that eliminating narcotics and organised underworld crime remained a key objective of the administration.
The President also revealed that special operations conducted from October last year up to the present had resulted in the seizure of 2,484 kilograms of heroin, 3,301 kilograms of 'Ice' (crystal methamphetamine), and 297 kilograms of cocaine.
In addition, the Police had taken into custody 93 T-56 assault rifles, 141 pistols and 105 revolvers, he said.
President Dissanayake emphasized that narcotics and underworld activities must be completely eradicated from the country to ensure a safe environment for future generations.
He further stated that the National People's Power (NPP) Government would not fall victim to any conspiracies and was committed to building a country founded on national unity and religious harmony, without allowing racism or religious extremism.
The President also pledged that the law would be enforced against all individuals involved in the theft of public property, fraud and corruption, adding that those responsible would be arrested, produced before the courts and punished in accordance with the law.
He reiterated that his government would not allow conspiratorial forces to destroy the country.
