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Big turnout at JSA sessions, judges pay Rs. 4,000 each
View(s):Judges of the Magistrate’s and District courts paid Rs. 4,000 each to attend the Judicial Service Association’s annual conference yesterday after UNDP funding for the event was unexpectedly cancelled.
This came amidst a Government offer to meet the costs of the conference — even after it ended —provided the judges did not discuss the impeachment motion during the annual session proceedings.
“We were informed on Monday that funding for the Annual Judges’ Conference was withdrawn,” said JSA President and Additional District Judge A.K.M. Patabendige. “It was only on Wednesday, after a meeting that we informed the membership they would have to pay Rs. 4,000 each.”
Mr. Patabendige said judges had rallied round the association despite having received such short notice about payment. This enabled the JSA to hold the annual sessions at a five-star hotel in Colombo as scheduled. However, the programme was shortened from two days to one. Of 207 judges, 181 were present.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), when asked about the cancellation of funds, said it had supported the Judges’ Conference over the past few years under the ‘Equal Access to Justice Project’. It was accordingly included in the UNDP’s work plan for 2012.
“In line with the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness which promotes national ownership, the leadership of the ‘Equal Access to Justice Project’ resides with the Government of Sri Lanka,” the UNDP said. Funding is therefore routed through the National Languages and Social Integration Ministry which is accountable for formulating, monitoring and implementing annual work plans.
“With reference to the Judges’ Conference, the UNDP was verbally informed by the national project authorities of the change in the activity work plan forecast for 2012, and we are awaiting formal communication and further clarification on this matter,” it said.
National Languages and Social Integration Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara said the money was withdrawn because there was a controversy raging about the impeachment motion. “The impeachment motion was going to be the principal subject of this Judges’ Conference. We have had information that the resolutions or discussion would be mainly to condemn or denounce the impeachment motion,” he said.
“The Government found it difficult to lend its favours, it is not a duty but a favour, to a concert which was due to condemn the actions of the Government and, above all, of Parliament,” he said. “So the ministry wanted to stay out of this controversy.”
He said there was another viewpoint that while the controversy was raging, “it should not be seen as we are giving funds to the judges to appease them so that they may not take a strong and opposing view against the impeachment”.
“But I said if nothing comes out of this meeting as regards the impeachment matter, I will consider giving them the funds even after the event,” he said.
The JSA has issued several statements critical of recent attacks on the judiciary, including the physical assault on JSC Secretary Manjula Tillekeratne. Last week, it expressed concern that the Parliamentary Select Committee that probed Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake’s conduct “failed to meet the basic standards expected of an impartial tribunal”.
The association has also organised several protest campaigns, including strikes.
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