President makes key Judiciary appointments

Wednesday, 2 December 2020 02:08 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

6 new judges to Supreme Court
New President for Court of Appeal
14 new judges to Court of Appeal
Govt. says appointments are a milestone

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday made several key Judiciary appointments with the Government describing it as a milestone.

Twenty one new judges to superior courts were sworn in before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa who at the ceremony pledged to support independence of the Judiciary and ensures its functioning is free of politicisation and other forms of interference.

Judges appointed to the Supreme Court are as follows,

Justice A.H.M. Dilip Nawaz
Justice Kumudini Wickremasinghe
Justice Anthony Lalith Shiran Gooneratne
Justice Janak de Silva
Justice Arachchige Achala Uthpalavarna Wengappuli
Justice Mahinda Abeysinghe Samayawardhena
Justice Arjuna Obeysekara was sworn in as the President of the Court of Appeal.
Judges appointed to the Court of Appeal are as follows,
Menaka Wijesundera
D.N. Samarakoon
M. Prasantha de Silva
M.T.M. Laffar
C.Pradeep Keerthisinghe
Sampath B. Abayakoon
M.S.K.B. Wijeratne
S.U.B. Karalliyadde
R. Gurusinghe
G.A.D. Ganepola
K.K.A.V. Swarnadhipathi
Mayadunne Corea
Prabaharan Kumararatnam
W.N.N.P. Iddawala

“The judicial cadre of both the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal has remained static since 1978. Although the necessity of increasing the number of judges in the superior courts has been mooted several times in the past, the number of judges in both courts has remained the same for over 40 years. There have been many advancements in the law and litigation has increased exponentially in this time. However, there has not been a corresponding increase in the number of judges,” the President said.

The efficient administration of justice is not only important in terms of upholding the rule of law, it is also vital to the economic development of this nation, President said, adding that reliable, efficient and effective dispute resolution through the justice system will foster the nation’s progress.

Chief Justice Jayantha C. Jayasuriya, Secretary to the President P.B. Jayasundera, Principal Advisor to the President Lalith Weeratunga were also present.