Court Backlog: Sajith Tables Proposal Backed by Ranil’s Suggestion

COLOMBO (News 1st); Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa today (4) requested the Speaker to appoint a Parliamentary Select Committee to obtain proposals aimed at expediting the resolution of the country's mounting backlog of legal cases, acting on a proposal put forward by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The proposal was formally handed over to the Speaker earlier today.

The move originates from a discussion convened by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa at the Opposition Leader’s Office in Colombo on July 23, following a written notification by Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Namal Rajapaksa regarding opposition to extending the tenure of judicial officers.

The meeting, called on the basis of Namal Rajapaksa’s communication, was held under the theme of an opposition alliance aimed at safeguarding democracy, the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary.

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe jointly chaired the discussion together with the Opposition Leader.

During the meeting, Wickremesinghe advised Premadasa to pursue the establishment of a Parliamentary Select Committee to gather proposals and recommendations on accelerating judicial proceedings and addressing the extensive backlog of court cases.

That proposal has now moved from discussion to formal action.

Under the leadership of Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, Members of Parliament from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) signed a resolution yesterday (3) calling for the appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee to obtain proposals for expediting court proceedings.

The proposal, endorsed by the SJB parliamentarians, was officially submitted to the Speaker today, marking the latest opposition-led initiative aimed at addressing delays within Sri Lanka’s judicial system and improving the efficiency of legal proceedings.