The Hon. Anuradha Jayaratne

¶ 01 Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to speak on the Ministry of Justice Expenditure Head.

¶ 02 Since September 2022, I have served as State Minister in the justice sector. Previously I held portfolios such as Agriculture and Mahaweli, which directly engaged with the people. But in 2022, given the financial crisis and the need to pass urgent laws, President Ranil Wickremesinghe requested me to take up this role, and I did so.

¶ 03 Accordingly, in 2022, 2023 and 2024 we were able to bring a significant number of Acts. In 2022, Parliament passed 14 Acts and we presented two sets of rules/regulations. In 2023, 11 Acts and six sets of rules/regulations. In 2024, 11 Acts and five sets of rules/regulations. We pay respect to President’s Counsel Hon. Ali Sabry and former Justice Minister President’s Counsel Hon. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe as well; many Bills in the pipeline were presented and passed. Never before were 36 Acts presented and passed within two years. About 90 more are being drafted across committees in the Attorney General’s Department and the Legal Draftsman’s Department. I trust our senior lawyer and current Justice Minister will efficiently bring these to Parliament to introduce necessary reforms. May you have the opportunity to do so, Hon. Minister.

¶ 04 Among the Acts we brought were those linked to GSP+, the IMF process, the Central Bank independence law, the Anti-Corruption Act, and the Regulation of Election Expenditure Act. This morning the Hon. Minister noted we are not yet at a favorable place in the Ease of Doing Business Index, but without such laws we cannot reach our targets. Alongside new laws, we must ensure implementation—especially of the Anti-Corruption Act. If amendments are needed, let’s make them and bring pending draft laws quickly so the Ministry can lift the country toward its goals.

¶ 05 I recall another matter: when Hon. Ali Sabry was Justice Minister, he planned the digitalization of the entire court system—about Rs. 3.2 billion for full implementation. While the State may not afford it in one go now, we can implement module by module—sending SMS notices for calling dates, digitalizing Record Rooms, etc.