Claims undue influence brought upon Judges

• Jathika Jana Balawegaya MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake proposed a debate on the issue
• Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella called for a one-day’s debate

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana   

The Opposition yesterday called for a debate on the alleged move by the government to hold a seminar for the Judges in order to exert undue influence on them and the denial by the Minister of Justice in that respect. 
Jathika Jana Balawegaya MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake proposed a debate on the issue while Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella called for a one- day’s debate on the issue officially.   

Responding to a question raised by Mr. Dissanayake on an earlier date , Justice Minister Ali Sabry said there had been no effort made to bring about undue influence on the Judges through a recent seminar held.   

“This seminar is organised by the Judges Institute which currently functions under the Judicial Service Commission. This is held to educate the Judges and Magistrates on the matters pertaining to the Judiciary and the current pandemic situation. The procedure of inviting the Judges for such a seminar is one that had been practised for many years,” the Minister said.

“Government has no desire to influence the Judges and strongly believes on the independence of the Judiciary. 

 We have taken some innovative steps to see that Judiciary functions despite the pandemic situation. We have provided facilities for the remand prisoners to participate in Court proceedings from the prisons through modern technology. Even zoom-in Court hearings are conducted now,”
he said.