Independence of Judiciary must be preserved – AG

Attorney General, Dappula de Livera said Judges in the exercise of judicial functions should be immune from outside control, influence and intimidation.

Addressing the Ceremonial sitting of the Supreme Court yesterday (20), he said Judges must discharge their judicial functions with high integrity, impartially and intellectual honesty by being honest,independent and impartial and possess a judicial conscience.

‘’The independence and the integrity of the Judiciary ought to be preserved for justice and the rule of law to prevail in a society. A Judiciary should not only be independent but appear to be independent to gain the confidence of the people,’’ he added.

He added that maintaining the independence of Judges and the quality of  the administration of justice would largely depend on the Judges themselves and the state of public opinion of the country, which demands their independence and impartiality.

Livera also welcomed Justice Dileep Nawaz, Justice Kumuduni Wickramasinghe and Justice Shiran Goonaratne to the Supreme Court on behalf of the Bar.