Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara informed Parliament that he has sought the intervention of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) following the death of a man who was remanded for two weeks after his mobile phone rang inside a courtroom.
Responding to a question raised in Parliament, the Minister said he had taken steps to bring the matter to the attention of the JSC, the body responsible for overseeing judicial conduct. He stated that he had already spoken with the JSC and prepared a formal letter outlining concerns over the incident.
“This is a serious matter. I cannot comment on the conduct of judges, as the judiciary is an independent institution, but I have referred this case to the JSC for appropriate action,” the Minister said.
The incident involved a man who was taken into remand custody on contempt of court chargers after his mobile phone rang during court proceedings. He later died while in custody. The Justice Minister said preliminary information suggested there may have been an altercation between the deceased and other inmates, but emphasised that a full investigation by prison authorities is still underway and no final conclusions have been made.
Opposition MP Faiszer Musthapha, who raised the issue in Parliament, said the case raised serious concerns about the possible misuse of the Contempt of Court Act. He urged the Minister to ensure that such laws are not used in ways that infringe on basic rights.
“A phone ringing in court is something that can happen to anyone, even lawyers. To be remanded for that, and then to die in custody—this raises deep questions about proportionality and justice,” Musthapha said, calling on the Minister to discuss the broader implications of the Act with the JSC.
In response, Minister Nanayakkara acknowledged the importance of the issue and noted that the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) is already in discussion with him regarding reforms to the Contempt of Court Act. He also said a committee would be appointed to review the matter further.
“This is not something we can take lightly. What happened to this individual is deeply concerning, and I am committed to seeing this addressed through the appropriate channels,” the Minister added.
