Judiciary is no longer politically influenced - President

President Maithripala Sirisena opening the new three-storey building of the Akurana Pradeshiya Sabha on Thursday 

in Alawathugoda

The judiciary is no longer politically influenced and the era in which the judiciary was politically influenced has been ended with consolidation of its independence to the maximum, President Maithripala Sirisena said.

Speaking at a public  event in Alawathugoda Thursday, the President said the Government has clearly given the opportunity to everybody to enjoy the benefits of peace and democracy in the last three months.

The President recalled that Central Province Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake approached the judiciary saying that some Provincial Councillors had signed a memorandum to remove him. However, he secured a stay order from the Appeals court until the petition is heard.

Similarly, the former Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has also secured an interim order preventing his arrest until the determination of the Fundamental Rights petition filed by him.

“They could do so as the independence of the judiciary has been consolidated in the country,” the President said.

Speaking further, Sirisena mentioned that the political culture of the country had various breakdowns duo to the mandatory system. “The mandatory system contains not a political philosophy of building a country, but a system of building personalities,” he stated.

The President further stated a requirement had arisen to create a new election system with the ideas of everybody of the country, including scholars and intellectuals.

President Maithripala was speaking at the opening of the new three-storey building of the Akurana Pradeshiya Sabha on Thursday in Alawathugoda.

The expenditure incurred by the Government on this building complex put up with the aim of providing a broad service to the public was Rs. 8 million. After its opening, the President inspected the building.