Second Special High Court declared open

By Darshana Sanjeewa  
The second special permanent High Court to hear financial fraud and corruption cases was declared open yesterday by Minister of Justice and Prison Reforms Thalatha Athukorala.

The new court with a three-member bench of judges was established at the Hulftsdorp courts complex.   

Earlier, the Justice ministry said under the Yahapalana policy, the government would establish three special high courts to hear fraud and corruption cases. The first court was declared open on August 21 last year.  Minister Athukorala after opening the new court said that the court will begin to hear fraud and corruption cases filed by the Attorney General and the Director General of the Bribery and Corruption, against any individuals which include politicians and public officials.

   
When journalist questioned the minister whether establishment of such special courts would expedite the process of taking legal action against former Central Bank Governor Arjun Mahendran over the bond scam, Mrs Thalatha Athukorala said “It is the responsibility of relevant law authorities such as the Attorney General’s Department and Dept. of Bribery and Corruption and my responsibility is to provide necessary facilitates for the judiciary.”  

“As a government, we have made several requests from respective countries to send such wanted individuals not only Arjun Mahendran bus also Udayanga Weerathunga, to Sri Lanka. But it is a decision of respective countries to send them or not. We are also waiting for a similar incident to happen in Sri Lanka by a foreigner. So we can act in the same manner such countries did,” she said.