“LTTE respected our courts; even they did not fire a single shot at our courts” – CJ Sarath N Silva
Chief Justice of Sri Lanka Sarath Nanda Silva highly appreciated the LTTE leadership saying the Tamil Tigers respected the orders delivered by Sri Lankan courts.
He said that although the Tamil Tigers had own courts in Kilinochchi and Mullaithivu, they had respected Sri Lanka’s courts.
“Tamils are a respectful community. They respected our law and the rights of others. Even LTTE respected our judicial system by refraining from firing a single shot targeting our courts”, the Chief Justice said.
The CJ was addressing a press briefing at the auditorium of the Ministry of Justice to make aware media of denominating the judiciary divisions.
“When our courts issued warrants to arrest persons that hid in Tiger controlled areas, they arrested them and handed over to Army”, he further said.
Replying to a question from a newsman, the Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva said that there were Sri Lankan judges in north and east continuously.
“They also had to approve Tigers’ orders. We removed them and none was sent from south to fill the vacancies. We appointed suitable persons from those provinces”, he added.
The CJ said he did maximum harm to Prabakaran legally, but could go to Jaffna freely to open courts.
“I prepared the indictment against Prabakaran as the Attorney General. He was jailed for 200 years by a judge whom I appointed. I delivered the judgment to de-merge north and east and I abrogated the Post Tsunami Operational Management Systems (P-TOMS) agreement that warranted World Bank aids to the Tiger administration. I did all these against the Tigers and went to inaugurate courts in Jaffna. If they were against us I could have been the main target”.
Chief Justice Sarath N Silva said: “There was a case in LTTE court. A DNA test was needed to verify the paternity of a child. Then the Tigers referred the case to one of our courts. We examined it and delivered a judgment. It was really a good example”.
He said that he was in public service for 41 years. Out of that period, he was judge for 20 years. “I am going to retirement as content Sri Lankan by rendering good service to the countrymen”, the CJ added.
