The strategic chess moves and manipulation of the judiciary goes on without a pause.
At the same time, public pronouncements are made targeting the independence and integrity of the Sri Lankan judiciary and justice system. Is the Sri Lankan law system subjected to slow death.
The manipulation of the High Court has begun with Upright and No nonsense justice Marasinghe being moved out of his current position, Judge Marasinghe was the most senior High Court judge and was expected to preside in Court No. 01 after the promotion of judge A.K. M. Patabendi. However he has been moved out of the Criminal High Court of Colombo. No reason has been made public for such moving out. Earlier another judge was moved out to civil work.
Two new Judges known to be close friends of Director General Bribery Ranga Dassanayake have been brought to Colombo, for the two vacancies.
The magistrates Court also has seen changes with independent judges being transferred. Magistrate Kaminda Peiris has been transferred to Civil work while another judge has been transferred out of Colombo to the subarbs
Minister of Justice has meanwhile made a public statement that justice is now served better after this government came to power. He made this statement after former Ministers Mahindananda and another were convicted in the High Court. Does this mean that the real justice is handed out only now. Then, have all the previous judges being partisan and not independent. Will this make people lose their belief in the system that dispenses justice.
All the while the judges associations, and the central administration of judges headed by Supreme Court judges have remained silent. Neither the government or the Bar Association has come forward to defend the judiciary.
All the moves are being made without any opposition. Are those aspiring for higher office playing along to get to better positions. Is Sri Lankas judiciary being manipulated. Do we need need judges who have remained independent to correct the situation.
