By Sandun A. Jayasekera

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said there was no need for international courts to make any attempt at solving issues in Sri Lanka as the domestic law was capable of dealing with those issues.

 “Sri Lanka does not want international tribunals, courts or committees to solve our problems. No body is privileged before the court system, even a legal counsel. Hence, no country has a right to put pressure on Sri Lanka. The greatness of a country derives from an independent judicial system,” President Rajapaksa said.

The President made the comments during a foundation stone laying ceremony for a modern courts complex at Hulftsdorp for lawyers.

The people in the country must be vigilant on the outside pressure mounted on Sri Lanka barring their caste, religious and ethnic differences. They must forget all these divisions and always be ready to protect the motherland, he said.

He also said there was a time when the rule of law prevailed upon only in a part of the country. The situation is now changed and the entire country is under one judicial system. It is the duty of all to work towards achieving an accelerated development after 30 years of war.

President Rajapaksa also urged the judiciary and legal professionals not to make room for delays in the legal process as it might contribute to lose confidence on both establishments among the public and certain elements attempting to take law unto their own hands. 

 “When litigants continue to suffer under law delays, they give up seeking redress through the existing judicial system. It was then that some sections of the society attempt to take the law into their hands. It is the

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responsibility of the lawyers to prevent this. We have witnessed how the law enforcement went to the jungle due to delays in the legal process,” President Rajapaksa said.

“The government is doing its utmost to safeguard the independence of the judiciary and is fully committed to protect the rule of law. The government never intends to influence the judiciary. There were instances when attempts were made to put pressure on the judiciary and change its decisions through foreign interventions and public protests,” the President said.

Breaking the law due to ignorance is not a reason to treat him or her leniently and at the same  time must be aware of their rights as well. The objective of the government is to create a country in which all sections of the society could live in peace and harmony enjoying their rights equally. This cannot be achieved through mediocre or time consuming methods. The legal system and the judiciary must be efficient and creative and skillful to do that.

It is the responsibility and duty of all lawyers to prevent and fight against any one attempting to promote the rule of law as it is a threat to themselves and the society. The judiciary is capable of dispensing and interpreting the law.      

The universally accepted norm that all are equal before the law will disappear if and when a government tends to poke into the affairs of it legal system. Sri Lanka is blessed with a unique and strong legal tradition and judicial system that can stand any challenge, the President said.

The Supreme Court interprets the law and other courts administer justice.  Tiger Courts that existed in the north east did not come under the country’s judicial system. The law of the land had to stop at Vavuniya. Anybody could have escaped to the Vanni after killing even a head of state.

The 200 year prison sentence given to LTTE leader Prabhakaran was restricted only to the book it was written. Even India could not do anything despite he was on India’s ‘Most Wanted’ list. All court orders and warrants could not be delivered or implemented due to the power of the gun.

Fortunately there has been a change to all this and the entire country is under one rule and the public in the country are protected by the laws passed by national parliament. Uniting under one flag means the rule of law prevailing upon the entire country.

Efficient judges like Sarath Ambeypitiya and hardworking lawyers like Wijedasa Rajapakse became victims of the underworld and the drug business when the rule of law was in its lowest ebb in the recent past. The court system of the country suffered heavily as a result of the terror campaign in the south. It is commendable that the Bar Association of Sri Lanka fought hard to protect the rule of law in the country.

The ceremony was organized by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka.

Ministers Prof. G.L.Peiris and Milinda Moragoda also spoke. The welcome address was delivered by BASL President W.Dayaratne and the vote of thanks was proposed by BASL Secretary U.R.De Silva.

Chief Justice Ashoka De Silva, Deputy Justice Minister V. Puthrasigamani, Attorney General Mohan Peiris and Justice Ministry Secretary Suhada Gamlath were present at the ceremony.