-By LeN Legal Affairs Correspondent
(Lanka-e-News -18.July.2025, 11.10 PM) In an unusually candid public statement, Justice Yasantha Kodagoda of Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court has stirred considerable legal and political debate after offering pointed commentary on presidential pardons and the conduct of public administration.
Speaking as the chief guest at the launch of a book authored by senior civil servant Prabath Chandrakeerthi, the Supreme Court judge took the opportunity to deliver a keynote address that touched upon the fundamental principles of administrative accountability and the limits of executive power.
In remarks that many observers have described as “uncharacteristically forthright” for a sitting member of the apex court, Justice Kodagoda stressed that public officials must exercise their responsibilities with a clear awareness of prevailing judicial decisions. He underscored that legal precedents are not optional guidelines, but binding directives which civil servants must respect when making decisions in the public interest.
Addressing the sensitive subject of presidential pardons, the judge stopped short of direct criticism but hinted at growing concerns within legal circles regarding the discretionary use of such powers. “Officials should not be afraid to act in the interest of public good,” he said, “but they must do so in accordance with the law and informed by judicial pronouncements.”
The timing of the judge’s comments is significant, as they come amidst mounting scrutiny over recent presidential pardons granted to several controversial figures, some of whom were convicted of serious crimes. Legal commentators suggest that Justice Kodagoda’s remarks may be interpreted as a subtle judicial pushback against what many perceive to be an erosion of rule-of-law norms in the country’s administrative and executive frameworks.
A video recording of the event, which includes the full speech delivered by the judge, has since been circulated widely on social media and legal forums, prompting public discourse about the independence of the judiciary and the responsibilities of public administrators.
Observers within the legal fraternity have welcomed the intervention, noting that it reflects a growing demand for judicial voices to assert the primacy of law amidst increasing politicisation of administrative processes. However, some senior bureaucrats have privately expressed concern about the implications of such high-profile judicial commentary on matters traditionally seen as within the purview of the executive.
As the debate continues, Justice Kodagoda’s speech has set the stage for a renewed national conversation on the role of civil servants, the sanctity of legal precedent, and the importance of preserving the balance between the three branches of government.
Watch the Video
---------------------------
by (2025-07-18 19:11:11)
)
Read 3816 Times
Leave a Reply
0 discussion on this news