An honourable boycott

Sri Lanka’s Superior Court judges showed they are genuinely deserving of the title ' Honourable" Justices (unlike our Hon. MPs) when they refused to attend the 135th anniversary celebrations of the Attorney General's Department last weekend.

It was even more honourable because many of them came from that Department to adorn the Bench. Sri Lanka's Appellate Courts have risen to the occasion, notwithstanding a few recuses in the recent years, and restored the dignity of the somewhat tarnished image of the Judiciary from not so long ago.

The reason for the judges keeping away from the function was due to the AG's Department's seemingly unprecedented step to collect financial sponsorships for a fundraiser event -- to help families affected by the Easter Sunday bombings. It is a terrible precedent, if it is the first time the Department has done this. When the Chinese embassy gives a cheque for Rs. 10 million, any argument that it is to an association within the department falls flat when the members of that association are State Prosecutors. The cases of Rishard Bathiudeen and Hizbullah collecting funds directly from foreign governments are already a matter of public debate.

Collecting funds for mega events is a difficult task. State institutions spend public funds lavishly much to the anger of the public. The media know all about it when it comes to organising their awards programme. Accusations of being compromised come into play and shrugging them off is difficult.

The AG's Department is already under fire for delaying files and not pushing for investigations. It is their job to give opinions on behalf of the Republic of Sri Lanka - even against foreign states. The famous dicta ' Justice must not only be done, but manifestly seem to be done' rings true in this instance. May Justice be safe in the hands of Appellate Courts - and the AG's Department now, and in the future.