Speaker blocks High Court judges meeting with UN Special Rapporteur

• But Speaker says meeting with CJ can be allowed in form of courtesy call 
• Speaker hailed by Opposition for taking action on concerns raised 
• Govt. also praises Jayasuriya for protecting independence of judiciary 
  
   

By Ashwin Hemmathagama – Our Lobby Correspondent

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday confirmed to Parliament the proposed meeting between the UN Special Rapporteur Clément Nyaletsossi Voule, currently on a visit to Sri Lanka, and the High Court Judges was cancelled to uphold the integrity and independence of the Sri Lankan judiciary.

Explaining the steps taken, the Speaker Jayasuriya said: “It was revealed that Additional Secretary Ahamad A. Jawad in the capacity of Acting Secretary wrote to the Secretary of the Judicial Services Commission requesting to arrange a meeting. It is my opinion that such a meeting should not be made available in response to the request of the UN Special Rapporteur at this moment.  

“I have instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice and Prison Reforms to take necessary action where the meeting with the Judges of the Colombo High Court will not take place. However, it has been the tradition that such meetings have taken place with the Chief Justice in the form of a courtesy call.”

Taking matters forward, the Speaker has issued necessary instructions to avoid similar incidents in the future during the meeting he had with the Minister of Justice and Prison Reforms and the Secretary of the Ministry and the Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

Acknowledging the possibilities to appoint a select committee to investigate the matters further the Speaker held that it could be taken up at the Party Leaders Meeting.

Commending the Speaker’s prompt action United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) MP Dinesh Gunawardena said: “I thank the Speaker for realising the seriousness of the issue and taking action to prevent the meeting. But the Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has failed to uphold the responsibility entrusted upon him. Unless this matter was taken up in the Parliament on Tuesday this foreign agent could have got the opportunity to access the files and the details of our court cases. We should be given the opportunity to move a motion against this incident in Parliament and to appoint a committee on par with the provisions of the Constitution. Parliament should ensure the independence of the judiciary.” 

Digital Infrastructure and Information Technology Non-Cabinet Minister Ajith Perera also praised the Speaker for maintaining the standards of the Parliament and addressing matters of importance impartially. 

“You are the Speaker, especially after the 19th Amendment, you have upheld the integrity and the independence of the legislature. Previously the Parliament was nothing more than an endorsing rubber stamp to the Executive. Now the Parliament acts independently to safeguard the supremacy and the rights of the people. It is important to educate the officers on how to act prudently.”

Meanwhile, Justice and Prison Reforms Minister Thalatha Atukorala urged the Opposition to hand over any evidence in their possession that could signal to questionable behaviour. 

“It was revealed in the Parliament that there is a voice recording during a tour by some judges in the United States. I urge the House to give us a copy of the particular tape to take action,” she said.  UN Special Rapporteur on Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association Clément Nyaletsossi Voule arrived in Sri Lanka last week. 

The UN special rapporteur’s official visit is scheduled to end tomorrow. The purpose of the visit is to assess rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the country.