Ensure independence of the judiciary—EU Delegation

The European Union looks to the Sri Lankan authorities to ensure that the independence of the judiciary is protected, the delegation of the EU in Sri Lanka said in a statement issued on Tuesday (04).

The statement comes in the wake of an acceleration of impeachment proceedings against the Head of the Sri Lankan Judiciary, Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake.  Flagging concerns about what it calls ‘recent developments in Sri Lanka surrounding the rule of law and individual freedoms’ the EU also called for speedy and investigations into the large number of deaths at the Welikada Prison.  Noting that several other domestic and international actors have also expressed concerns including the Commonwealth Secretary General, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers and the Asian Human Rights Commission, the Delegation said in its statement that it looks to the authorities to ensure that “All citizens, including students, journalists and opposition politicians, are able to exercise their fundamental rights without impediment.”The EU said it was releasing the statement in agreement with the EU Heads of Mission in Sri Lanka.