Judges explore ways to expedite PTA cases

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 13 October 1999, 06:42 GMT]
Colombo High Court Judges who met yesterday with Judge Nimal Dissanayaka in the chair formulated certain procedures that will help to expedite cases filed under Emergency Regulations and the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).

Colombo High Court Judges Dudley Karunaratne, Chandra Nanayakara, Mrs.Chandra Ekanayake and Andrew Somawanse were present at the meeting.

The Judges decided to have the trials on a day-to-day basis but the problem was certain lawyers were unwilling and it was decided to persuade them to do so. It was also decided to give short dates when cases have to be postponed. It was also decided to reject a confession made by an accused if such confession had not been accepted in any other High Court.

It was also agreed to grant bail in cases filed under the Emergency Regulations with the consent of the Attorney General. It was pointed out at the meeting that it was not possible to grant bail in cases filed under the PTA because there was no provision in the law.

Colombo High Court Judges met and discussed these matters following representations by defence counsel Kumar Ponnambalam, A.Vinayagamoorthy and Mrs. Joy Mahadeva that Tamil prisoners languishing in prison without trial were threatening to go on hunger strike seeking an early determination of their cases.