Newly appointed Court of Appeal President Justice Yasantha Kodagoda, PC, yesterday said it was important that the Attorney General advises the police to bring detained suspects responsible for Easter Sunday attacks before courts of law as provided by the law.
He also said the Attorney General should ensure the expeditious and successful prosecution of the terror attack suspects.
Justice Kodagoda was speaking at the ceremonial sitting of the Court of Appeal to welcome him as country’s 47th President of the Court of Appeal.
He expressed his confidence that the Police and the Tri-Forces would expeditiously identify and apprehend all those responsible for the dastardly acts of terror on Easter Sunday.
“It is also important that effective preventive strategies are adopted and enforced, so that the security of the country and its people can be ensured,” the Court of Appeal President said.
He further said the executive policy of the state would no longer be a criterion that would govern his decisions.
“In the resolution of disputes through adjudication, I have to apply the law, and where the law provides, apply principles of justice and equity. The executive policy of the state is no longer a criterion that will govern my decisions,” he said. Meanwhile, Justice Kodagoda suggested bringing a Constitutional Amendment to enable a serving Supreme Court judge to be appointed to sit and function as the President of the Court of Appeal for a fixed term of three years.
“A term of three years would enable the President of the Court of Appeal to fully understand the internal workings of the court, identify challenges, plan, muster necessary resources and effectively manage the court in a stable and efficient manner,” he said.
The newly appointed Court of Appeal President was accorded a warm welcome at the ceremonial sitting by an array of Judges of the Court of Appeal, High Courts, District Courts and the Magistrate’s Courts.
The ceremony began with speeches by Acting Attorney General Dappula de Livera, PC and BASL President Kalinga Indatissa, PC. They lauded Justice Kodagoda for his three-decade-long service at the Attorney General’s Department since 1989.
Additional Solicitor General Yasantha Kodagoda, PC was sworn in as the President of the Court of Appeal before President Maithripala Sirisena on March 28.
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