Geneva proposes asset freezes, travel bans ahead of HR sessions
By Shamindra Ferdinando
An Extraordinary Gazette notification, pertaining to the nomination of Justice Abdul Hameed Dileep Nawaz, as the Chairman of a three-member Commission of Inquiry (CoI), to investigate, inquire into and report, or take required actions, regarding the findings of the former Commissions, or Committees, that investigated human rights violations, serious violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and other such offences, was issued on January 20.
The Extraordinary Gazette notification was issued, close on the heels of a ceremonial sitting of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, to welcome Justice Nawaz, Justice Kumudini Wickramasinghe and Justice Shiran Gooneratne. They were among six new Supreme Court justices, named on Dec 1, 2020, in terms of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, enacted two months before. The other new justices are Janaka de Silva, Achala Wengappuli and Mahinda Samayaward
Declaring that courts must necessarily occupy a high position of power, privilege and independence in the life of a nation, Attorney General Dappula De Livera, PC, yesterday (20) emphasised that judges in the exercise of judicial functions should be immune from external control and influence and intimidation.
The AG said so at the ceremonial sitting of the Supreme Court to welcome Justice Dileep Nawaz, Ladyship Justice Kumudini Wickramasinghe and Justice Shiran Gooneratne.
The following is the text of the AG’s speech: I am constrained by time but I shall not waste a minute. My Lords and My Lady you commenced your legal careers and were moulded in the Attorney General’s Department and after long and faithful service to the Institution of the Attorney General finally adorned the Bench and embarked on a career in the Judiciary which has now already spanned several years.
Independence of judiciary essential for a democratic system ; AG
Independence of judiciary essential for a democratic system ; AG
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Colombo (News 1st); An independent judiciary is the corner of stone of the prevalence of the rule of law in a democratic society, said Attorney General Dappula De Livera on Wednesday (20) at a Ceremonial Sitting of the Supreme Court to welcome Justice Dileep Nawaz, Justice Kumuduni Wickramasinghe and Justice Shiran Gooneratne.
The credibility of a judicial system in a country is dependent on the Judges who man it, he said.
Judges must be people of impeccable integrity and unimpeachable independence, he said, adding a judge must discharge his judicial functions with high integrity, impartially and intellectual honesty said De Livera.