The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law - Minister of Justice and National Integration

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, the answers are as follows:

¶ 02 (a) (i) Yes.

¶ 03 (ii) Recommendations to establish a Civil Appellate High Court are made by the Judicial Service Commission chaired by the Hon. Chief Justice. To date, the Judicial Service Commission has not made such a recommendation. However, in 2021, the Committee headed by Hon. Supreme Court Justice Samayawardhena, which submitted the Judicial Zones Determination Report, proposed establishing a Civil Appellate High Court in Panadura. While this is an excellent report, it can be implemented only after the concurrence of the Hon. President of the Court of Appeal and the Hon. Chief Justice, and subsequent publication in the Gazette. As the full set of recommendations has not yet been gazetted, implementation must be based on recommendations of the Judicial Service Commission. Given the post-report economic crisis, current global war situation, and requests of the Bar Associations, the zoning report needs to be reviewed in line with present circumstances.

¶ 04 (iii) Nevertheless, the Government always strives to provide fair solutions through consultation with all parties. Recently, I met with the Panadura Bar Association together with Hon. Nilanthi Kottahachchi, MP for Kalutara District, where a proposal to establish the Panadura Civil Appellate High Court was submitted. Accordingly, I immediately referred the proposal to the Judicial Service Commission chaired by the Hon. Chief Justice, who exercises judicial administration. A copy is tabled as an annex.

¶ 05 (b) The Bar Association has also submitted proposals for providing infrastructure to establish the Panadura Civil Appellate High Court. These have been referred to the Judicial Service Commission, and further action will be taken based on its recommendations. Judicial administration is handled by the Judicial Service Commission, while the Ministry of Justice and National Integration provides only infrastructure and other facilities to courts. I reiterate this.

¶ 06 (c) Does not arise.

¶ 07 Annex placed in the Library.