The Justice and National Integration Ministry has announced plans to establish an Independent Prosecutor’s Office, in line with the National People’s Power (NPP) Government’s policy statement, A Thriving Nation, a Beautiful Life.
As a preliminary step, the Ministry will appoint an expert committee to oversee the foundational aspects of this initiative. The committee will comprise the Attorney General (AG) or two representatives nominated by the AG, the Justice Ministry Secretary, a senior judge with expertise in the subject, and the President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) or a representative nominated by the BASL President.
The committee’s primary responsibility will be to draft initial plans for the establishment of the Independent Prosecutor’s Office. Following this, the Ministry intends to seek public and civil society input before finalizing the concept paper for implementation.
The proposed Independent Prosecutor’s Office aims to address concerns over prosecutorial independence in Sri Lanka. Currently, the Attorney General serves both as the government’s legal advisor and the chief prosecutor, which has raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest. The new office is expected to enhance transparency and public confidence in the judicial process by ensuring greater independence in criminal prosecutions.
