• Writes to Spkr. on ‘violation’ of ‘privileges’ over recent judicial remarks  

   Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Minister President’s Counsel Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe has sought Speaker of the Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana’s intervention to bring the Chairperson and Secretary of the Judicial Service Association (JSA), both Judges, before the Parliamentary Committee on Privileges.

This request has been made in response to a recent communiqué issued by the JSA questioning certain statements made by Rajapakshe with regard to the Judiciary. In a letter addressed to Abeywardana and dated yesterday (25), Rajapakshe directed Abeywardana’s attention to what he referred to as a grave violation of his privileges and powers as a Member of the Parliament caused by the JSA’s comments.

A Ministerial staff member confirmed to The Daily Morning the sending of the said letter to the Speaker.

Referring to several statements made on 19 June with regard to the Judiciary, Rajapakshe said in the letter that he merely explained several matters in response to a question posed in the Parliament, and that the said JSA communiqué had alleged that those statements were made with ‘hateful intent’ and in an ‘irresponsible’ manner. He further said that his statements had been referred to in the letter as a project aimed at removing the Secretary of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC). 

“Circular number 328, issued by the JSC on 1 September, 2010, informs all District Court Judges and Magistrates to refrain from making public statements, and that the violation of this would attract disciplinary action,” the letter read, adding that another circular issued in 2016 by the then Chief Justice had prohibited issuing statements to the media and making unnecessary or irrelevant comments during court proceedings.

The JSA statement was issued by the JSA President and District Judge Ruwan Dissanayake and JSA Secretary and Magistrate Isuru Neththikumarage. It alleged that an attempt to discredit unbiased Judges seem to be in motion, and that recent statements made in the Parliament against the Judiciary are examples of the said attempt. Moreover, it expressed disapproval of the abovementioned statements made by Rajapakshe.