The Hon. Ajith P. Perera

¶ 01 Under Article 12(1) of the Constitution, equality before the law is guaranteed. Yesterday, a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising Chief Justice Murdu Fernando, and Justices Shiran Gooneratne, Achala Wengappuli, and Priyantha Fernando delivered a landmark judgment. Paragraphs 543 and 544 state that in respect of the X-Press Pearl, when Sri Lankan courts had jurisdiction and expert reports so indicated, the process where, upon recommendation of a Parliamentary Committee, the Attorney General agreed to take jurisdiction to Singapore amounted to denying equality before the law under Article 12(1). It also recommended that the conduct of the Attorney General’s Department be investigated by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption. This is grave. In this situation, regarding securing damages of about USD 1 billion as affirmed by the Supreme Court, and regarding the advice given on accountability and preventing such in future—what detailed measures will the Government take?