Govt. defends decision
By S. K. Samaranayake Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said yesterday that the government’s decision to extend the retirement age of judges was by no means aimed at benefiting a single judge; it was part of a strategy to reform the judicial sector. The Minister of Justice said so while addressing the media after visiting the […]
Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara defended the government's decision to extend the retirement age of judges, stating it was not aimed at benefiting a single judge but part of a reform strategy for the judicial sector. During a press conference after a visit to the Mahanayake Theras in Kandy, Nanayakkara clarified the decision amid confusion from various parties.
He noted that extending the retirement age would alleviate public distress caused by case delays, as institutions like the Attorney General's Department and the Government Analyst's Department would become more efficient. The Government Analyst's Department currently processes between 7,500 and 9,000 reports monthly for the courts.
Out of the 40,000 inmates in Sri Lanka's prisons, 30,000 are remandees, with around 23,000 awaiting drug offence trials due to processing delays. Nanayakkara emphasized that prison overcrowding, exacerbated by recent drug raids, stemmed from systemic issues, not just physical capacity. He highlighted that facilities meant for 10,000 inmates currently hold 29,000 and called for long-term solutions beyond temporary fixes.
Written by urgent.news from The Island Sri Lanka's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
