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Longer detention to combat crime
By Chandani Kirinde
New laws allowing the police to hold suspects for 72 hours without being produced in courts are to be introduced as part of the crackdown on the crime wave, Justice Minister John Senaviratne said yesterday.

Addressing parliament during the budget debate, the minister said it was necessary to strengthen the hand of the police to tackle the growing lawlessness in the country. The minister said he had faith in the majority of officers in the police and the judiciary.

He said the problem of laws delays was a reason that the people were losing faith in the juduciary and that once the 18th Amendment to the Constitution came into force, this problem would be considerably eased as there would be regional appeal courts.

Mr. Seneviratne said the recent killing of High Court Judge Sarath Ambepitiya had opened everyone's eyes to the dangerous trends in the country. Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle suggested that non-summary proceedings in criminal cases be bypassed to avoid delays as they tended to drag on for three to four years.

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