Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara told Parliament yesterday (17) that the biggest challenge facing Sri Lanka’s justice system is the delay in court proceedings.

Speaking during the parliamentary session, the Minister said the government does not interfere politically in the independent judiciary, and that this independence has contributed to Sri Lanka’s improved standing in international indices over the past year.

He noted that the administration of the judiciary falls under the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), chaired by the Chief Justice.

However, the Minister added that the Ministry is responsible for providing transport, communication facilities, and other infrastructure required for the functioning of the judicial system. He said the JSC appears to be working actively to make justice-delivery mechanisms more efficient and effective.

Highlighting ongoing efforts, Nanayakkara said emergency judicial inspections and other inquiries are being carried out continuously. He said MP Dayasiri Jayasekara had noted that more than 20 judges have been suspended from service, reflecting the JSC’s active enforcement.

The Minister stressed that suspensions, removals, and all such actions are taken independently by the JSC, with no political interference.

According to information provided to the Minister by the JSC, more than 650 complaints against judges and other court officials have been investigated, with decisions already made.

He further stated that the JSC is implementing a continuous performance evaluation mechanism to ensure the efficient conduct of judicial officers.

Nanayakkara added that, in line with the “Clean Sri Lanka” initiative, a special programme is underway to clear the backlog of old case files accumulating in courts. He said the target is to complete the disposal of these files by 31 December 2025.

A detailed circular has been issued for this purpose, and special judges have been appointed by the JSC to supervise the process, the Minister said.