October 19, Colombo (LNW): President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has reiterated that his administration will respect the rulings of the courts, including the Supreme Court, stressing that the Government will not act in defiance of decisions delivered through the judicial process.
Speaking at the Badulla District Women’s Conference yesterday (18), the President said the enforcement of the law must apply equally to all citizens, regardless of their social standing or previous access to positions of influence. He argued that objections to legal proceedings had emerged from certain quarters that had previously enjoyed privileges and protection.
Explaining how the country’s legal system operates, Dissanayake pointed out that Parliament is responsible for passing legislation, while institutions such as the Attorney General’s Department and the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption initiate legal action where appropriate. Investigations are carried out by bodies including the Bribery Commission, the Criminal Investigation Department and the Police, with the courts ultimately responsible for determining the outcome of cases.
The President questioned the consistency of those who challenge judicial decisions when the outcomes do not meet their expectations. He argued that accepting court rulings only when they are favourable would undermine the very principles on which the rule of law depends.
He maintained that no country could ensure a functioning legal system if judicial verdicts were routinely challenged on the grounds that particular individuals or groups disagreed with them.
Dissanayake also said his Government had empowered the relevant institutions to carry out their statutory responsibilities and would allow the legal process to take its course. The administration, he added, would respect the conclusions reached by the judiciary rather than seek outcomes outside the established legal framework.
Reaffirming his position, the President made clear that compliance with judicial rulings remained the Government’s stated approach, emphasising that the authority of the courts must be recognised as an essential part of democratic governance and accountability.
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