An extraordinary gazette notification was published last night (10), amending the institutional and legal framework of 10 ministries.
The gazette was issued by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, revising the institutions under various ministries and their functions.
Accordingly, the institutional and legal framework and special priorities of the following ministries and state ministries have been amended through the gazette:
- Ministry of Justice
- Ministry of Education
- Ministry of Industries
- Ministry of Economic Policies and Plan Implementation
- Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs
- Ministry of Public Services, Provincial Councils, and Local Government
- State Ministry of Prison Management and Prisoners’ Rehabilitation
- State Ministry of Aviation and Export Zones Development
- State Ministry of Education Reforms, Open Universities, and Distance Learning Promotion
- State Ministry of Provincial Councils and Local Government
- Removing ambiguities in the Constitution and amending the constitutional provisions to ensure the sovereignty of the people, national security, inclusive economic development, human rights, rule of law, and sovereign state of the country
- Effecting necessary reforms to match the country’s laws with the international law in such a way that the national identity and sovereignty are protected
- Formulating and implementing a programme in co-ordination with all institutions to effect amendments to obsolete laws, procedures, acts, and ordinances
- Development of infrastructure and human resources required for the judicial sector and formulating appropriate methodologies by adoption of advanced technology to prevent delays in enforcing the law
- Empowering the Mediation Boards process so that civil disputes could be settled without resorting to courts
- Providing the latest knowledge and technical training on law enforcement procedures and mechanisms to the relevant personnel
- Co-ordinating with information technology (IT)-related institutions in the introduction of digital technology to improve co-ordination between the justice system and related agencies
- Taking measures in collaboration with the Presidential Task Force to eliminate anti-social activities within prisons
- Taking measures to develop infrastructure facilities in prisons in collaboration with the relevant Presidential Task Force
- Establishing advanced technological methodologies to monitor criminals in prisons
- Formulating a mechanism to grant special pardons through a review process in addition to the policy process of granting general pardons, to reduce prison overcrowding
- Preparing a broad mechanism for the rehabilitation of prisoners
- Resolving administrative issues relating to officers and employees of the Department of Prisons expeditiously