By: Isuru Parakrama
Colombo (LNW): The Judicial Service Association of Sri Lanka (JSASL) raised strong concerns over the proposed appointment of Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Tikiri Jayathilaka and another official at the Attorney General’s Department to the High Court, in a letter addressed to the President dated May 26, 2023.
The Union reminded that Jayathilaka previously served as a Magistrate since 2006 until he resigned to take over his appointment as an Assistant Secretary to the Parliament of Sri Lanka, and that his request to assign him to the parliamentary staff as a secondment was refused by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) for apparent reasons.
“As such, his exposure to non-legal institution was deemed to be disqualification to reassume duties as a member of the judiciary at any future stage. Consequently, his candidacy to re-enter the judiciary is quite contrary to the prior JSC decision that has already been taken concerning Mr. Jayathilaka’s reoccupation in the judiciary,” the JSASL said.
The Union warned that the President’s decision on the matter was detrimental to the independence of the Judiciary, especially the independence of the judges of the trial courts.
It added that it believes that the President may pay immediate and close attention to this issue concerning the functioning of the judiciary without interference.
