Reports in Sinhala hamper Jaffna judiciary

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 March 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The judges in the Jaffna courts are finding it difficult to carry out their duties as reports are being filed in the Sinhala language which they cannot comprehend, said M. Thirunaavukkarasu, the Mallakam judge, during a discussion yesterday with a delegation from the United States embassy in Colombo.

He pointed out that civilians in Jaffna are unable to understand the charges against them, as the reports filed by the Sri Lankan Police are in Sinhala. This contravenes their fundamental rights he told the American officials.

The Batticaloa Municipal council passed a unanimous resolution last year objecting to the Sri Lankan Police's practice of taking down complaints and filing reports in Sinhala in the Batticaloa district.

The Sri Lankan police and other Sri Lankan security forces are predominantly made up of Sinhalese personnel.

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