(Lanka-e-News- 20.Dec.2016, 10.40 PM) It is a crucial question whether the courts have a special ‘soft heart’ treatment towards our politicians of Sri Lanka going by the court attitude? Are there also special treatment for politicians in jails too? These were the questions raised by president Maithripala Sirisena who was the chief guest at the annual conference of the Judicial service association yesterday (19) held at Pegasus Reef hotel , Wattala.
The chief justice K. Sri Pavan presented a souvenir to the president as a token of appreciation of president’s participation.
It is worthy of note in the history of the JSA rarely was a politico invited as the chief guest for its annual conference . Usually it was a non partisan local or foreign intellectual of the judicial sphere who was invited as the chief guest . However this year and last year it was president Maithripala a politico who was the chief guest which is an index how much the Judicial service association has become politicized with the mingling of turncoats and black coats.
The president who addressed the judges made a number of controversial utterances.
He said the ‘shadow’ of an executive president has an impact on the judiciary , and during the last decade the conduct of the executive president was unwelcome and that shadow was therefore not something to feel happy about. As a result of that , the respect commanded by the judiciary and the faith reposed in the judiciary were undermined , and there were issues pertaining to the impartiality regarding the solutions provided by the courts to the people who were also having misgivings. However during his two year period in power , he had seen to it such a situation is non existent , and when promotions and transfers in the judicial service are effected priority was given to merits , ability and talent , the president exhorted.
( Under the 19 th amendment, transfers and promotions are effected by the JSC , which fact , the president seems to have forgotten or is unaware. Or , is it because in spite of the JSC which is there to perform those tasks , the executive president is still carrying out those functions ?)
On 8 th January 2015 ,it is a well and widely known fact when the president had no support of the print or electronic media , it was only the media websites which contributed towards the victory of Maithripala . Yet , totally and ungratefully forgetting that , the president revealed he has told his wife and his children too not to browse the websites . New laws will be introduced against websites , the president blabbered while exploding with rage against the websites . Excerpts of the president’s blabbering address is hereunder …
‘… in the same way the speech of Justice minister came up for discussion . At the same time we came to know through the media , and heard during parliament debates , how via the internet media , judges of the judicial sphere are unfairly and unlawfully criticized while also publishing falsehoods.
I think everybody is aware in this country , it is I who am most castigated and vilified day in and day out via the internet and the websites .That record cannot be broken by anyone. What I do for this is I avoid viewing those. I have told my wife and children too not to view websites, and to attend to their daily chores ,instead of viewing them .
No matter what , the websites are today abusing their freedom . As politicians we are well accustomed to these insults and criticisms. This is because politicians are always the target of criticism , mudslinging and insults. But when those relate to you of the judicial sphere , medical and engineering spheres it is a little difficult to endure. Only if we can endure those attacks we can go on. If we cannot we can’t perform these tasks. But you who belong to the judicial sphere are not like that.
When considering the environment in which you live and the social background, these are something new on the one hand , and new challenges on the other. As a government we are deeply regretting such a situation, and we have discussed with the Justice minister . We have decided that every legal measure shall be taken to avert this .
It is the just people who deserve freedom. We always condemn the unlawful and uncivilized actions of the few among the majority of the virtuous people .
We reject such actions. We shall always act to avert those because in this present contest we have reposed a lot of confidence in the judicial sphere .
It becomes necessary to analyze to some extent the charges and criticisms leveled from the side of the people against the judicial sphere. I believe focusing attention on that even if we don’t go deep into it will be appropriate.
What we notice sometimes is , when criticisms are being leveled ,the media , the ordinary people and certain quarters are having doubts as to whether the courts are showing a special consideration towards the politicians? Whether the jails are treating them specially ? It has become clear to us such criticisms that politicos being favored are specially widespread in this country .
While I express my profound pleasure , it is hoped the expectations of the people primarily and the government, as well as the faith reposed by us in the judiciary shall be reinforced , so that like how it is today , in the future too you shall carry on .’
The president went on to comment ‘judges are also humans.’ The salary structure of the judges , the staff of AG’s department and the legal draftsman’s department is not reasonable. Therefore , a revised salary scale will be introduced to them to make them happy , the president observed.
The full text of the speech of the president can be heard by clicking here
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by (2016-12-20 17:16:16)
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President also is human noh? Let him blabber a bit and then act in a different way.
-- by Perumal on 2016-12-21
