Six new High Court Judges

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has appointed six District Judges as High Court Judges with effect from yesterday (04).

The six judges were sworn-in before Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva PC at the Chief Justice’s Chambers yesterday morning.

The six new High Court Judges are,

*former Akkaraipattu District Judge A.L.N. Maimoona,
*former Panadura District Judge P. Nirmala Ranawaka,
*former Gampaha District Judge A. R. Ranaweera Heiyanthuduwa,
*former Colombo District Judge Priyantha Fernando,
*former Colombo District Judge R. M. Sisira Kumara Ratnayake
*former Colombo District Judge M. Ruwan Chandrakantha Fernando

Courtesy: Government Information Department

Priyasath Dep, President’s Counsel appointed Acting Attorney General

Solicitor General Mr. Priyasath Dep was appointed  Acting Attorney General consequent to the retirement of Former Attorney General Mr. C. R. de Siva P.C .by His Excellency the President with effect  from 08th October ,2008.He was sworn in before his Lordship the Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva P. C. on the 09th of October ,2008.

Priyasath Dep had his primary and secondary education at St. Joseph’s College, Colombo. At school he excelled in studies and sports .He represented College in Athletics, Rugger and Soccer.

Priyasath Dep was enrolled as an Attorney- at -Law in October 1976 and joined the Attorney General’s Department as a State Counsel in January 1978 and was promoted to the post of Senior State Counsel in February 1989.He was appointed a Deputy Solicitor General in February 1996 and an Additional Solicitor General in October 1996.Mr. Dep was appointed a President’s Counsel in April 2000. He was appointed as Solicitor General on 07th April 2007.

In 2004 he was nominated to argue the appeal in Sujith  Prassanna  (Superintendent of Customs ) Murder case  and successfully  argued the appeal in the Supreme Court.

Courtesy : lankapuvath

Ticketing machines, conductor uniforms compulsory from next year

The Supreme Court has issued an order to private bus operators to ensure that ticketing machines and uniforms are used by the conductors when discharging their duties from the first of January next year (2009).

As an initial step the ticketing machines and the uniforms will be used in the Western Province. This issue has already been gazetted by the National Transport Authority.

All the Private Bus owners are requested to adhere to the new regulations and any bus operator that does not comply with new regulations will be punished in accordance with the law, the Supreme Court announced yesterday (29).

Accordingly Chief Justice, Sarath N. Silva has directed authorities to cancel the route permits of private bus operators who violated these regulations.

The Government has already published the penalties for such offenders in a gazette notification.
The Supreme Court’s decision came in the wake of a fundamental rights petition filed regarding the traffic congestion in Colombo.

Courtesy: Government Information Department

De-mining under way - civilians to be resettled in Jaffna HSZ

The de-mining process is currently in progress in the areas that have been identified to re-settle civilians within the High Security Zone (HSZ) in the Valikamam north region in the Jaffna Peninsula, said a spokesperson for the special committee dealing with the grievances of residents who were evacuated from the High Security Zone in 1987.

The High Security Zone in Valikamam north is the largest and highly sensitive region covering vital military installations such as the Palaly army base, air field and naval bases in the Kankesanthurai and Myliddy areas.

The Valikamam north High Security Zone came into existence following the military operations which were intensified by Security Forces against the LTTE in 1987. The High Security Zone is in Valikamam.

However, following two fundamental rights applications that were filed in 2003 and 2004 in the Supreme Court, a five-member special committee was set up on the directive of Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva on June 23, 2008 under the chairmanship of High Court Judge, Jaffna, R. T. Vicknarajah.

The committee comprising the Government Agent, Jaffna K. Ganesh, Jaffna Security Forces Commander Major General G. A. Chandrasri, Rear Admiral T. S. G. Samarasinghe and the Deputy Inspector General of Police W. F. U. Fernando have decided to send a report on the re-settlement process to the Supreme Court at its third meeting on Friday.

The special committee which held three meetings so far had received 3,419 applications from civilians to be re-settled in the High Security Zone area and the applications are being scrutinised by the Government Agent, Jaffna.

Six hundred families have been already resettled in the border areas of the High Security Zone. Twenty-four families will be resettled within the High Security Zone following the removal of mines by the army engineers in the areas that have been allowed for re-settlement.

The spokesperson for the special committee headed by the Jaffna High Court Judge said that the military was very cooperative in expediting the resettlement process and the committee was looking forward to complete its task as early as possible.

The spokesperson also added that the government would provide compensation to civilians to undertake reconstruction work depending on the damage to their buildings and lands.

Donor countries have also agreed to help the government on the re-settlement process, the spokesperson said.

Courtesy: Sunday Observer

Petition against PC dissolution dismissed

The petition filed by the United National Party (UNP) challenging the dissolution of the North Central Province and Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council was dismissed by the Supreme Court a short while ago.

Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva said that the decision taken by the Governers of the the respective province cannot be challenged as it has been done in accordance with the relevant legislation.

Courtesy: Government Information Department