LAW & SOCIETY TRUST
Chairman
R.K.W. Goonesekere
July 26th 2012
LST STATEMENT CONDEMNING ATTACK ON MANNAR
COURT HOUSE
The Law & Society Trust condemns the mob attack on the Mannar court house, allegedly
at the instigation of a Cabinet Minister over a disputed ruling, as well as (reportedly)
threatening phone calls to the Mannar Magistrate cum District Judge from the same
member of the Government.
An attack on a court house is a serious infringement of the independence of the judiciary.
The independence of the judiciary is not a privilege of judicial office, claimed for the
personal benefit of judges but is fundamental for the impartial administration of justice
according to law and is indeed an inalienable feature of the Rule of Law.
The Beijing Statement of Principles of the Independence of the Judiciary (1995) asserts
that independence is essential to the proper performance by the judiciary of its functions
in a free society observing the Rule of Law. This guarantee goes to the roots of judicial
performance as well as the public acceptability of decisions.
Public confidence in the legal and judicial system stems from the assumption that
judges act according to law and do so in a manner that is free from political pressure or
interference.
Securing the independence of the judiciary is therefore a foremost duty of government.
That duty cannot be bypassed by reference to past injustices caused to the judicial
institution in Sri Lanka by previous regimes, or satisfied by a mere promise to carry out
token inquiries.
The Trust calls for an immediate and effective investigation into the said attack with
sanctions being imposed against those responsible.
Telephone: +94 11 2691228
+94 11 2684845
3 Kynsey Terrace, Colombo 8, Sri Lanka
Email: lst@eureka.lk/ lstadmin@sltnet.lk
Website: www.lawandsocietytrust.org
Telefax: +94 112 686843