Sri Lanka’s first permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar, which is being set up to expedite the high profile corruption cases against the former government, is to commence hearing cases related to money laundering, graft and financial crimes from July 4th, the Press Trust of India (PTI) has reported
Last month, Parliament had passed the Judicature (Amendment) Act, brought by the government to pave way for setting up of special high courts to expedite hearing of corruption cases against former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s administration, his family members and their associates.
“The first high court will become operational in July, while two others in September,” Cabinet spokesperson Minister Rajitha Senaratne has been quoted as saying in the PTI.
The PTI report stated that many Rajapaksa family members and their associates were tried for alleged corruption following the change of the regime in 2015. But there has been considerable public dissatisfaction over the inordinate delay in trials as the accused, who were arrested, had been released on bail.
Also, the court procedures were taking months to set trial dates, even after three years of the Rajapaksa presidency.
There are accusations that leaders of the current government are having political deals with the Rajapaksas to go slow in legal procedures.
Courtesy: Sri Lanka edition
