Startling revelation by Justice Minister There are only 15 Judges for one million Sri Lankans

In comparison to 200 Judges, in developed countries

By Yoshitha Perera   

There are only 15 Judges per one million population in Sri Lanka and the whole country has only 378 Judges to handle ongoing court cases,Minister of Justice Ali Sabry said. 

He said so addressing  a seminar on the importance of protecting victims and witness yesterday. 

 
The Minister said that in developed countries there were 200 Judges per million population and in middle income countries it was 65-70 Judges per million population.   
“This is a serious matter in our current legal system and during my tenure I hope to double the number of Judges in the Judicial system,” he said. 

 
He said that in the current legal system it took a long period to complete a case and initially to complete a trial at High Court it took 10 years.   

“I’m not going to address the technical facts pertaining to the Act on Protection of Victims of Crime and Witness but I must say there is less investment in the Judicial system,” he said.   
Minister Sabry said that there were nearly 5,000 cases at District Courts pending almost 20 years without any conclusion.   

“We have not infiltrated technology and outdated laws are the causes of these issues in the current legal system,” he said.  
Minister further added that the Ministry was in its final procedures on the completion of tenders regarding the digitalisation of Judicial System in the country.  

• We have not infiltrated technology and outdated laws are the causes of these issues in the current legal system