Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has proposed the appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee to examine Sri Lanka's mounting backlog of court cases, which currently stands at approximately 1.1 million.
The former President said he fully agreed with the Minister of Justice on the urgent need to accelerate legal proceedings and reform the justice system. He noted that the overwhelming number of pending cases has placed significant pressure on magistrates and district judges across the country.
Calling for a bipartisan effort, Mr. Wickremesinghe urged all Members of Parliament to work together to address the crisis. He invited the Opposition, including Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, to collaborate with the government in drafting a joint resolution on judicial reforms and present it to Parliament next week.
As an immediate step, the former President proposed establishing a Parliamentary Select Committee to investigate the underlying causes of delays in the judicial system and recommend practical, long-term measures to reduce the case backlog.
He said the committee's findings would help formulate sustainable reforms aimed at improving the efficiency of Sri Lanka's courts and ensuring faster access to justice for the public.
