The Attorney General’s (AG) Department, already struggling under a severe shortage of officers, has been left in limbo as the Public Service Commission (PSC) has failed to respond to a formal request for additional appointments for over four months, The Sunday Morning learns.

Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe, PC, in a written appeal, has requested the PSC to approve 25 more officers to bolster the department, which currently handles criminal cases with only 97 officers.

Speaking to The Sunday Morning, the Attorney General said the strain was reaching critical levels within the department, with individual officers burdened with over 300 cases each. 

Despite the heavy workload, remuneration for these officers remains low, adding to morale concerns.

In addition, Ranasinghe admitted that the department was losing its most experienced officers to overseas opportunities, further exacerbating the crisis.

“Our best officers are leaving the country, and with the PSC’s inaction, the situation is becoming more difficult,” he acknowledged.

The AG, the Government’s Chief Legal Adviser, is responsible for advising ministries, statutory boards, and public corporations on legal matters, conducting criminal prosecutions, and representing the Government in courts and tribunals. He also provides guidance on complex criminal matters, sometimes acting in a quasi-judicial capacity.

With the PSC’s prolonged inaction, a senior Government official warned that delays in handling cases could impact the justice system and raise questions about administrative accountability.

“The Attorney General’s Department is essential for upholding criminal justice, yet officers are stretched beyond capacity while waiting for approval of much-needed staffing,” the official said.

As learnt by The Sunday Morning, the PSC is yet to issue any statement regarding the four-month delay.