Govt to amend Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code to conclude criminal cases in three months

The government has decided to amend the Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code to curb the rising crime rate. The aim is to set up a judicial mechanism that can resolve a criminal case and impose a sentence in as little as three months.

With the approval of the Chief Justice, two or three Supreme Court judges would work together to establish a Trial at Bar system to expedite the hearing of cases, Minster of Public Security Rear Admiral (retd.) Sarath Weerasekara said.

Minster Weerasekara said measures would be taken to expedite the cases as the suspects were released on bail a few days after their arrest and while they were free on bail they committed other crimes. As it took years for punishment to be meted out and since they were not properly punished, the number of victims was increasing.

Weerasekera said that those who promoted division of the country would be prosecuted.