SJB proposes that judges be paid a stipend for writing their judgments

Speaking at the committee stage debate on Budget 2024 under the expenditure heads of the Ministry of Justice, Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella said yesterday that many judges had not written their judgments. “We propose that a should be paid to them as an incentive so that the backlog of unwritten judgments could be cleared faster,” Kiriella said.

Kiriella said that judges were leaving the country for foreign employment because the salaries they draw here were not sufficient to cover their expenses. “The Justice Minister sought our opinion on the matter of judges leaving the country when we met at a recent party leaders’ meeting. Judges cannot live on the salary they draw. On the other hand, there is no point asking the opinion of MPs on this matter. The Chief Justice should be consulted. The matter should not be decided by MPs, party leaders, the Justice Minister or the President. It is a matter that should be decided by the Chief Justice.

“Some judges do not write their judgments. They must not be allowed to go abroad. They could be given permission to go abroad upon completion of the task of writing of judgments. We think that the judges should be given a stipend for writing judgments,” Kiriella said.