Call for a legal system recognising all communities equally

Saumya Moorthy Thondaman Memorial Foundation Deputy Director J. Tyagaraja recently highlighted that Sri Lanka urgently needs a legal system that recognises all communities equally.

He made these remarks during a public consultation of the Presidential Task Force for ‘One Country, One Law’ at the Thondaman Vocational Training Centre in Hatton.

Pointing out that the Constitution of 1978 has been amended several occasions, Tyagaraja said that a new Constitution should be drafted to treat all communities equally by addressing the shortcomings of the existing Constitution.

Tyagaraja is of the view that although different communities of this country have unique legal systems, Tamil people are a less privileged community who had not received any assistance from these legal systems.

He also said that the Official Language Act, introduced in 1956, had degraded the education level of the plantation workers and also had an impact on their economy. Tyagaraja pointed out that there was evidence to prove that a legal system which was unique to Sri Lanka prevailed in the days when it was a kingdom and that it could be used as a basis for the formulation of a new legal system.

The Presidential Task Force for ‘One Country, One Law’ concluded the public consultations in the Central Province with Nuwara Eliya district. 

“Anyone who wishes to express their views before the Task Force can schedule a date and time by calling the telephone number mentioned below,” Presidential Task Force for ‘One Country, One Law’ Secretary and Senior Assistant Secretary to the President Jeevanthie Senanayake said, adding that comments can also be made via post or e-mail through the following addresses.

The task force is chaired by Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera and other members include Prof. Shanthi Nandana Wijesinghe, Attorney-at-Law Sanjaya Marambe, Pani Wewala, Eranda Nawarathne and Northern and Eastern Provincial Coordinating Sub-Committee Chairman Dr. Jeevaka Bandara were also present at the consultations.

Task Force address: Room No. 3G-19, Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 07. Telephone no. 011 2691775 and email: [email protected].