Lawyers' Collective Condemns Statements by President, Ministers and MP Undermining Judiciary

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Lawyers' Collective has strongly condemned statements made in Parliament by a group including President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, Education Minister Susil Premjayantha, and MP Dayasiri Jayasekara.

The condemnation stems from comments made by the President and Ministers critical of recent Supreme Court decisions.

The President referred to a ruling on the Gender Equality Bill as "judicial cannibalism" and proposed a Parliamentary Select Committee to review it.

The Justice Minister compared the Court's orders to the suspension of civil rights by Adolf Hitler.

These statements, along with allegations against judges by the Justice Minister, are seen as attempts to intimidate the judiciary.

The Lawyers' Collective highlights the importance of judicial independence as a cornerstone of Sri Lanka's democracy. They argue that the Executive's comments threaten the rule of law, separation of powers, and public confidence in the judiciary.

While acknowledging the right to free expression, the Collective emphasizes the responsibility of the Executive to maintain the balance of power and avoid eroding the authority of other government branches.

The statement expressed concern that these statements are part of a larger pattern of intimidation by the Executive, particularly in the context of recent legal challenges to government actions.

They believe the statements are politically motivated and aim to undermine public trust in the judiciary and democratic processes.