The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), a regional human rights organization based in Hong Kong, has written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, urging the newly elected National People’s Power (NPP) government to initiate crucial justice reforms aimed at restoring the rule of law and human rights in Sri Lanka.
In a letter signed by Basil Fernando, Director of Policy and Program at AHRC, the organization identified three key areas requiring urgent attention: streamlining high court trials for serious crimes, combating corruption through independent investigations, and reforming the Attorney General’s Department to eliminate arbitrariness in governance.
AHRC emphasized the importance of restoring certainty in criminal trials, proposing the implementation of daily hearings for serious cases to address delays caused by frequent adjournments. Swift resolution of cases, particularly serious ones such as murder, would help restore public confidence in the justice system.
The organization also called for the establishment of a corruption control body independent of the police, modeled after Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). By recruiting and training its own investigators independently, such a body could address systemic corruption more effectively and within a shorter timeframe.
Highlighting the Attorney General’s Department’s evolution into a tool of executive convenience, AHRC urged systemic transformation to return to a framework rooted in the rule of law. The organization emphasized the need to prevent arbitrariness and ensure accountability in governance.
AHRC commended the new government for creating an opportunity for historic change, given its commitment to justice and governance reforms, as outlined in the NPP’s manifesto. It believes that achieving these reforms will require strong political determination and public participation.
The letter also pointed out that international agencies are likely to support Sri Lanka in its reform efforts, offering financial and technical assistance to improve judicial and administrative systems.
Addressing President Dissanayake, AHRC expressed hope that the government would act on these recommendations swiftly, leveraging this historic moment to rebuild Sri Lanka’s justice system and restore public confidence in the rule of law.
This development has sparked discussions among legal experts, human rights activists, and civil society organizations, who are keenly awaiting the government’s response to these urgent calls for reform.