The Judicial Service Association of Sri Lanka (JSA) has objected to the appointments of Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Tikiri Jayathilaka and another junior officer of the Attorney General’s Department as High Court justices.
Issuing a statement, the JSA condemned President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s decision to approve the appointments despite concerns being raised in this regard.
The JSA stated that in a previous letter to the President, it had pointed out that the assuming of duties as the Deputy Secretary General of Parliament disqualified Tikiri Jayathilaka from resuming duties as a member of the judiciary at any future stage.
The JSA warned at the time that the decision by the President to appoint Jayathilaka to the High Court was detrimental to the independence of the Judiciary, especially the independence of the judges of the trial courts.
Pertaining to the appointment of the other Officer of the Attorney General’s Department, the JSA pointed out that the said officer was a junior and the appointment was unfair to the judicial officers who are next in line in judicial seniority.
The JSA said despite having requested the President to refrain from appointing Tikiri Jayathilaka and the junior officer of the Attorney General’s Department to the High Court, the appointments have been approved.
Stating that these appointments will result in the public losing faith in the Judiciary, the JSA added that it will also result in the failure of the judicial system. (NewsWire)
