CJ lays foundation stone for Trincomalee new court complex

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 15 January 2003, 15:29 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Chief Justice Mr.Sarath N.Silva Wednesday laid the foundation stone for the new court complex in Trincomalee town, which is to be constructed at a cost of seventy-one million rupees with the financial assistance of the International Development Agency of the World Bank under the Legal and Judicial Reforms Project.

"Under the Legal and Court Reforms Project under the IDA of the World Bank only two new court complexes will be constructed in the country and that will be in the northeast. The first is in Trincomalee we start today and the next is the one we would start in a few months' time at Jaffna," said the Chief Justice

Chief Justice Mr.Sarath Silva speaking after laying foundation for the Trincomalee new courts complex.

The Chief Justice said, "this event is significant and historic for several reasons. It is the first time in the history of the country of this country when work commenced to construct an entirely new court complex in this important north-eastern city of Trincomalee. Hitherto, we have been holding courts there in old and dilapidated buildings that have been constructed for different purposes. The event is also significant since it is the first major construction work undertaken by the Legal and Judicial Reforms Project."

Referring to the structure of the new court complex in Trincomalee, the Chief Justice said, "the large and magnificent building will come up in Trincomalee will have a floor area 36,210 square feet. It will have three stories and semi basement and accommodate six courts. The total estimated cost of this courts complex exceeds 70 million rupees. This is in every sense a worthwhile investment to strengthen the administration of justice and rule of law in the country."

The Chief Justice laying foundation stone.

The Trincomalee District Judge Mr. Anton Balasingham on behalf of the judicial officers said, "for the last twenty years our Trincomalee district has faced untold hardships. Now we see the light of the peace and joy. For the last so many years litigants, lawyers and judges of Trincomalee have been suffering due to lack of proper building facilities. Today is the dawn of the new era for litigants, lawyers and judges of Trincomalee."

The President of the Trincomalee District lawyers Association Mr. Pradeep Rubasinghe made the welcome address and its Secretary Mr.R.Thirukumaranathan proposed vote of thanks. Several others also spoke.

At the commencement of the event, the Chief Justice was taken in a procession from the chamber of the Trincomalee district court to the venue accompanied by the District Judge Mr. Anton Balasingham, Batticaloa District Judge P.Swarnaraj, Trincomalee Magistrate Mr.S.Thiagendran, Muttur Magistrate Mr. T.L.A.Manaf, Kantalai Magistrate Mr.Ajit Manavasinghe and members of the Trincomalee Lawyers Association led by its Present Mr. Pradeep Rubasinghe and Secretary Mr.R.Thirukumaranathan.

( L-R) Batticaloa District Judge Mr.P.Swarnaraj,Trincomalee District Judge Mr.Anton Balasingham, Chief Justcie Mr.Sarath N.Silva ( with garlands) Trincomalee Magistrate Mr.S.Thiagendran, Muttur Magistrate, Trincomalee Lawyers Association Presdent Mr.Pradeep Rubasinghe.