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Collapse of rule of law instrumental in economic crisis: Wijeyadasa

29 September 2023 10:51 am - 27     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The collapse of the rule of law was also instrumental in the recent economic crisis in the country, Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said yesterday.

He told this while speaking at the inauguration of the National Law Week 2023 at the Supreme Court premises yesterday.

The Minister said people's awareness of the law is required to achieve the objectives expected by the people from the rule of law in a democratic society.

He said a programme has been initiated by the Sri Lanka Legal Aid Commission to provide low-income families with legal assistance free of charge and added that European Union, Asia Foundation, UNICEF and UNDP have extended assistance in this regard.

The Minister also said steps have been taken to strengthen the Arbitration Board system in Sri Lanka.(Ajith Siriwardana)


  Comments - 27

  • joshua Friday, 29 September 2023 10:57 AM

    First apply the law to your brethren in that house who have looted the public funds and are involved in money laundering. You are talking as if you just landed from Mars. If you cannot implement the law and order in our house by Diyawaanawa, i just wonder whether your presence as a Minister make any sense.

    Amaran Friday, 29 September 2023 11:04 AM

    Very good move. People from rural area have either NO or LITTLE knowledge about the rule of law. This may be one of the reasons that POLITICIANS were able to exploit their lack of legal knowledge.

    S. Batangala Friday, 29 September 2023 11:04 AM

    It is your responsibility as the minister of justice to catch them alive. People in this country are aware of this situation much before you realized this.

    ravin Friday, 29 September 2023 11:49 AM

    It was on public domain that a minister and his lawyer son was influencing CID officials regarding a well known drug dealer. Who is the minister concern? Is it called rule of law upheld?

    Gaston Friday, 29 September 2023 12:30 PM

    You mean collapse of law to arrest the looting politicians?

    Spartacus Friday, 29 September 2023 01:06 PM

    Bullshit talk only for everybody to listen. When is your next deal sponsored trip to USA with your family?

    Mandayan Friday, 29 September 2023 01:08 PM

    Under your watch, a judge has resigned and fled. But you talk of past years!! Come in minister!!

    Reza Friday, 29 September 2023 01:08 PM

    Your son rising to be the most sought after lawyer is a total conflict of interest. You should immediately step down. But that will not happen until the voters stop eating hay and chase.

    Gb Friday, 29 September 2023 01:20 PM

    Corruption is main cause of crisis,

    Kandiah Balendran Friday, 29 September 2023 02:01 PM

    Big crooks questioning small crooks, that is SL.

    Bernatd Jayatilake Friday, 29 September 2023 02:19 PM

    The rule of law collapsed very recently when the Legislature ignored the Supreme Court verdict regarding holding of Local Govenment Elections and were you sleeping at that time?

    Karalasingam Sivalingam Friday, 29 September 2023 02:22 PM

    Wijedsa is correct, we never had rule of law in the country, under Rajapakasa clang, Gota, Maithri and other acted according to their whims and fancies . People were heroes became Zeros.

    Kroda Friday, 29 September 2023 02:30 PM

    This man tries to show off by making certain pronouncements now and again as if he is a Saint. However, people know him as an unscruplous Politician and that is the reason for his acquiring the title DEALDASA.

    L Jaya Friday, 29 September 2023 02:35 PM

    He too is responsible for the disaster, protected Rajapaksas while you were a minister of Yahapalana. Now trying to wash his hands despite still carrying out underhand deals. What a shame. Lejjai

    ALawyer Friday, 29 September 2023 02:39 PM

    No Minister! Absolutely NOT. It is the collapse of economy because of corruption and wrong decisions taken by your leaders and interference of your leaders and yourself in the Justice System led to the collapse of law and order.

    Ram Friday, 29 September 2023 02:55 PM

    All politicians must take the blame for the collapse of the Rule of Law. Justice Minster recently exposed a $250,000 bribe but it was never investigated. Through these cracks the rule of law suffers

    Onlooker Friday, 29 September 2023 03:07 PM

    And pray tell us Dealdasa who took a holiday with Senadhipathy in USA and helped him later and your friend Vajira from Galle who aided and abetted it and later gave citizenship during weekend holidays to Gota. Is that not "collapse of the rule of law".

    Terrence K Friday, 29 September 2023 03:39 PM

    Justice Minister is clouding the understanding of the rule of law to outsmart the public. By using the words rule of law connotes two meanings that the rule of law requires that law be everywhere in government but not everywhere in life. So the collapse of the rule of law was instrumental for this economic crisis. He does not specificially mention that policy makers and their regime were instrumental in this collapse since policies like the fertilizer issue, waiving of tax to high segments of business, tax scams etc. were initiatives by the government with many politicians acting as Jack of all Trades whilst sweeping away the professionals who had knowledge and experience eg. field of agriculture. It seems he is camouflaging the ruling politicians but passing the buck to the general public.

    Gamini Dunwella Friday, 29 September 2023 03:51 PM

    Good that you understand it now - You were the main culprit of all such acts - you told once that you've saved Myna from the jail! What is the law there? Now again the Minister of F Justice!

    saman Friday, 29 September 2023 04:14 PM

    Wijedasa, you very well know the reason for the Collapse of rule of law. We read and understood from TV, News Papers and Social Media that the police has two sets of books to write their complains. One for wealthy and Influential people including 225 MP in parliament and one set for the poor and less privilege people. Then obviously the rule of law collapses.

    KP Friday, 29 September 2023 05:06 PM

    You think? Captain obvious.

    Big Sam Friday, 29 September 2023 05:32 PM

    Rubbish. Rule of law didn't suddenly collapse and become the trigger for bankruptcy. It was due to appointment on unqualified rogues to run the economy, flanked by backbonless yes-men in the cabinet.

    Buddhist Friday, 29 September 2023 06:24 PM

    The collapse of the rule of law is because the IGP and the Chief Justice are under the thumb of the politicians. What we require is to appoint a foreign IGP and a foreign CJ only then we can begin to make changes. These foreigners can be Sri Lankan born diaspora members who are educated and have experience in this field.

    DOT Friday, 29 September 2023 06:45 PM

    Funny to hear such news! You are in the parliament for more than a decade!

    wickrama wijayasiri Friday, 29 September 2023 07:45 PM

    You have identified the problem. What are you going to do about it? Sad that you yourself do not respect the law.

    Jude Friday, 29 September 2023 08:25 PM

    The MP's making mockery of legal system as for the Gold smuggling MP the law was not applied to the letter!!

    RP Friday, 29 September 2023 08:29 PM

    Minister you are spot on. Good Luck to you if you can implement and also, how are you going to explain this to the mainly "Mee-Haraks" in the 225 members of the Parliament?


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