By

Franklin R. Satyapalan

Attorney General (AG) Sarath Palitha Fernando, who visited the North last week, had been asked by the Jaffna based lawyers for practical, meaningful measures to reconsider the cases pending before the courts in the North filed under Emergency Regulations and the Prevention of Terrorism Act and to consider rehabilitation rather than punitive measures for the accused as the war was over, said Deputy Solicitor General (DSG) (Administration) Sumith Dharmawardena yesterday.

The AG had replied that the suggestions made by the members of the Bar would be seriously considered. During the AG’s visit to the five judicial zones in the Northern Region, accompanied by a team of senior officers from his department, from September 25 to the 26, he held discussions with members of the Bar and the Judicial Officers.

The President of the Vavuniya Bar Association S. Dayabaran highlighted that it was a historical moment for the Vavuniya Bar as it was the first time an AG had officially visited the Vavuniya Bar. District Judge of Vavuniya R. Ramakamalan and the Vavuniya Magistrate M. Rizwan were also present.

AG Fernando was also informed that the language barrier was the biggest issue in the Northern Province. Though the proceedings were filed in Tamil very often police reports were filed in the Sinhala and the lack of competent translators had caused protracted delays in judicial proceedings.

AG Palitha Fernando, who assumed office on July 17, 2012 will retire from office following a felicitation ceremony to be held in Hulftsdorp on Oct. 15.

The Attorney General, speaking in Tamil, highlighted the importance of learning and understanding both Sinhala and Tamil national languages and assured that meaningful steps would be taken to remedy the situation by employing more Tamil speaking police officers in the Northern Province and educating them on the need for learning Tamil to interact with Tamil civilians.

Apart from having discussions with the judicial officers and the members of the bar, the AG addressed the senior police officers at functions organised at Jaffna and Kilinochchi. The seminars were organised by Senior DIG Pujitha Jayasundara and DIG Roshan Dias, DIG U. K. Dissanayake and SSP W. Wickremasighe raised matters relating to criminal investigations in the northern region and the importance of working in the Tamil language. Fernando discussed community policing and the need for building trust and confidence.

The police revealed that since the beginning of the current year Tamil speaking police officers had been attached to each and every police station in the Northern Province and that the complaints and the statements were recoded in Tamil.

The AG held discussions with Security Forces (SF) Commanders Kilinochchi Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe and SF commander Mullaitivu Major General Jagath Dias on the prevailing law and order situation in the Northern Province.

Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Dappula de Livera PC, who is in charge of overall supervision of the Northern Province, Senior State Counsel Navaratne Marasinghe, Senior State Counsel supervising criminal prosecutions conducted in Vavuniya and the Jaffna Judicial Zones Madava Tennakoon, participated in discussions.

Courtesy:The Island