Delaying remedy for legal delays

• Published date: 07 February 2023
• Publication title: Daily Mirror

What is important here is not the decision of the judge, but the long gap between the time the offence allegedly committed and this decision. The decision did not conclude the case, but only directs to proceed with the case by which he has to wait further either to be released or to be convicted. Udugampola has been accused in this case for raiding a safe-house used by Army intelligence personnel at Athurugiriya Millennium City housing scheme on January 2, 2002 and revealing information regarding Army officials and their undercover operations. 21 years have passed since the alleged incident had taken place, but the case is still dragging on.

This is not the only case dragging on for years. Legal delays are not a new phenomenon in Sri Lanka. In an interview with the Daily FT of July 20, 2017, senior lawyer President's Counsel J. C. Weliamuna described this problem as a national crisis. It is a well-known fact that land related cases drag on in courts...