The Ministry of Justice, Prison Affairs, and Constitutional Reforms has made significant progress in legal reforms, with the highest number of reforms being implemented over the past two years.
Secretary to the Ministry M. N. Ranasinghe highlighted that since 2022, 59 legal reforms have been passed in Parliament, with an additional 07 drafts and 44 legal amendments slated for future approval.
Addressing the media at the Presidential Media Centre on Monday (June 17), he emphasized the ministry’s pivotal role in drafting laws across various ministries.
- Significant progress in legal reforms :
A total of 59 legal reforms have been passed in Parliament. Among them, 29 were passed in 2022, 17 in 2023, and 13 so far in 2024. Additionally, seven more drafts are set to be adopted by Parliament soon. It is also important to note that work on 44 other crucial legal amendments is nearly complete.
The Department of Legal Draftsman prepared 273 draft laws in 2022 and 299 in 2023, in all three languages, for other ministries.
- Efficient judicial system :
Digitization of the judicial system has been identified as a major solution in resolving delays in the legal system. Accordingly, digitization and a large number of reforms have already been carried out in the ministry as well as in the judicial sector.
After 42 years, the amendment of the Constitution increased the number of Supreme Court judges by 14. Despite the difficult economic situation, 76 judicial officers were recruited on two occasions in the last two years. Additionally, 34 individuals were promoted to High Court Judges on two occasions. This allowed for the increase in the number of courts and the introduction of new courts.
During this period, the number of courtrooms in the Supreme Court increased from 3 to 5, and the number of courtrooms in the Court of Appeal increased from 5 to 10. It should also be mentioned that digitization has been introduced in the Supreme Court, providing great convenience to citizens, including lawyers.
- Resolving commercial disputes :
Getting to the top of the Ease of Doing Business Index is crucial for attracting foreign investments. Four Commercial High Courts have been established in the Western Province to resolve commercial disputes, and all arrangements have been made to establish more Commercial High Courts.
Additionally, to address the new investment landscape created by the port city project, necessary legal reforms are underway to establish an investment court to quickly resolve investor disputes.
An Enforcing Contract Task Force is also being implemented to build a favourable investment environment.
In 2022, the Ministry introduced a significant change to the judicial structure by establishing small claims courts, where financial disputes up to Rs. 2 million can be referred. Since these courts follow streamlined procedures, financial disputes can be resolved very quickly.
Currently, separate Small Claims Courts are functioning in Colombo, Kandy, and Matale. In the future, the establishment of these small claims courts in other areas will be facilitated. Until then, this judicial procedure will be implemented in the district courts.
- Judicial Zoning Committee recommendations:
The committee has proposed many new courts to facilitate access to justice for rural people.
Accordingly, a tourism court was established in the Morawewa area, and the other recommendations of the committee’s report will be implemented in the future.
Tourist courts and magistrate courts were promoted in Medavachchiya, Kahtagasdigiliya, Nochchiyagama, Kalavanchikudi, Narammala and Kalawana. Additionally, several new courts were established over the past two years.
Moreover, the process of settling disputes outside of court has been strengthened. It is noteworthy that Sri Lanka’s dispute settlement rate is almost 70%, which has received international recognition.
- Proposed Bills:
Bills such as the Anti-Corruption Bill and the Hydrology Bill have been introduced.
As per the amendment to the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, possession of more than 5 grams of ‘ICE’ drug carries severe penalties, including death or life imprisonment.
Furthermore, the recently enacted Regulation of Election Expenditure Bill mandates that every candidate contesting elections must report their expenditures within 21 days of the release of election results, marking a significant positive development. (Newswire)
