Eran calls for restoration of  independence, dignity of Judiciary

Parliamentarian Eran Wickramaratne called on the Parliament and the civil society to strengthen the independence and restore the dignity of the Judiciary.

Addressing the Rotary Club of Colombo Mid Town, He said that diminishing respect for the Rule of Law diminishes all. "Such erosion has led to impunity. In a society where a person, (Julampitiya Amare) had not been arrested despite repeated warrants, an erosion of confidence in the police had set in.

He said, "We cannot afford to erode the dignity of the Judiciary. The independence of the Judiciary takes meaning only when it is independent of the Executive."

He called for the restoration of the Constitutional Council, and the 17th Amendment to the Constitution, so that appointment of judges will not be the sole prerogative of the President.

He passionately argued that Parliament should be responsible for the remuneration of judges and called for increasing the salaries of judges. He suggested that Supreme Court Judges’ salaries be increased to Rupees Five Hundred Thousand a month, and salaries of all Judges be adjusted accordingly, with Magistrates’ at Rupees One Hundred Thousand a month. He stressed that financial independence will restore the dignity that is rightly due to the Bench.