The Opposition has formally handed over a no‑confidence motion against Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara to Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne in Parliament today (21).

The Opposition confirmed the move, noting that the submission was made with the signatures of several Opposition MPs, marking a coordinated challenge to the Minister’s position.

The motion comes in direct response to the Negombo Prison unrest on July 5 and 6, where clashes left a number of prison officers and inmates dead and several others seriously injured. 

The Opposition argues that Minister Nanayakkara failed to fulfill his responsibility and accountability for ensuring the safety of those in custody.

According to the motion, the Minister has not properly carried out duties entrusted to him under Extraordinary Gazette No. 2412/08 of November 25, 2024, which include formulating and implementing policies on prison reforms, administration and rehabilitation, developing prison infrastructure, and reducing congestion. 

These lapses, the Opposition claims, directly contributed to the crisis. (Newswire)

The post Opposition submits No‑Confidence Motion against Justice Minister appeared first on Newswire.

Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara told Parliament today (21) that steps are underway to expedite the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). 

He highlighted that the new legislation has already been approved by the Cabinet‑appointed committee, marking a decisive move toward abolishing the decades‑old law.

“Once approval is granted for the new legislation, the Prevention of Terrorism Act will be abolished,” the Minister affirmed.

Nanayakkara further explained that individuals detained under the PTA for extended periods without hearings will be able to apply for bail through the relevant High Court. 

He clarified that bail is not a government policy decision, stressing that the judiciary functions independently in such matters. (Newswire)

The post Justice Minister says steps underway to expedite repeal of PTA appeared first on Newswire.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, together with Opposition MPs, today signed a No‑Confidence Motion (NCM) in Parliament against Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara.

The move comes in response to the unrest at Negombo Prison, where both prison officers and inmates were killed.

Opposition members said the Minister had failed to fulfill his responsibility and accountability regarding their safety.

According to the Opposition group, the NCM seeks to hold the Minister directly accountable for lapses in ensuring protection within the prison system. (Newswire)

The post Opposition signs No‑Confidence Motion against Justice Minister appeared first on Newswire.

Prison officials have raised concerns with Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara over misleading information being circulated about the officer who opened fire during the recent Negombo Prison unrest. 

They told the Minister that the officer’s actions were crucial in containing the situation. 

“We were rescued from a serious crisis because of that officer. We wear this uniform as a separate unit. What are these stories being spread outside?” they questioned. 

The officials further noted that if prisoners had broken out, it would have led to a serious disaster affecting the public. 

Calling the officer a hero, they urged the Minister to protect him.

In response, Justice Minister Nanayakkara assured that justice would be ensured in the matter. (Newswire)

The post Justice Minister urged to protect officer hailed as hero during prison unrest appeared first on Newswire.

Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara visited the Negombo District General Hospital on Monday (06) to inquire into the condition of prison officers injured during the recent clash inside the Negombo Prison.

During the inspection, the Minister held discussions with doctors and hospital staff regarding the treatment being administered to the injured officers and the facilities required to support their recovery.

According to official figures, 23 prison officers are currently receiving treatment at the Negombo District General Hospital and Colombo National Hospital, while 54 inmates injured in the incident are also under medical care.

Following the unrest at the Negombo Prison, Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara revealed that 26 individuals were reported dead, which included 19 inmates and seven prison officers.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet has approved the appointment of a three-member committee, chaired by Retired Supreme Court Judge Priyantha Fernando, to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the incident. (Newswire)

The post Justice Minister visits injured Prison Officers after Negombo Prison clash appeared first on Newswire.

A court sentenced a former South Korean justice minister on Monday (Jun 22) to 25 years in prison for his role in ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol’s brief and disastrous declaration of martial law in 2024.

Park Sung-jae was found guilty of involvement in “insurrection”, the Yonhap news agency reported from the Seoul Central District Court.

Yoon’s December 2024 martial law declaration lasted only about six hours as lawmakers raced to the assembly building and voted it down in an emergency session.

He has since been convicted of leading an insurrection, and is in detention while appealing a life sentence.

Yoon was also given a 30-year jail term earlier this month for sending drones to North Korea to “manufacture a national crisis” to justify his martial law.

Park had held a meeting of justice ministry officials in the early hours of the martial law and checked on prison capacity should the authorities arrest anti-government figures, prosecutors said.

As justice minister, he “instructed cooperation with the martial law command … on the assumption that a decree would be effective,” Yonhap quoted from the verdict.

Prosecutors had sought a 20-year sentence for Park, arguing he had “reduced the law to a tool of insurrection in his abuse of power and posed a challenge to the rule of law”.

They said he had shown no remorse. 

Yoon’s shock late-night national televised address plunged South Korea into an unprecedented political crisis.

It triggered protests, sent the stock market plunging and caught key allies like the United States off guard.

A circle of Yoon subordinates have been given hefty sentences.

Former prime minister Han Duck-soo, who once toyed with a presidential run himself, is serving 15 years in prison, and former interior minister Lee Sang-min nine years.

Last week, the former defence minister was sentenced to three years in prison for revealing classified military information in furtherance of the insurrection.

Yoon’s wife, Kim Keon Hee, is serving a four-year term for stock manipulation and bribery unrelated to the martial law fiasco. (CNA/ Reuters)

The post South Korea’s ex-Justice Minister gets 25 years jail for role in martial law attempt appeared first on Newswire.

Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara says the removal of the Attorney General has not been discussed at the Cabinet.

The Minister made this remark to the media today (22 Jan) following a discussion held at the Vavuniya District Secretariat.

“Regardless of what kind of reports are published on social media, there has been no discussion within the Cabinet regarding the removal of the Attorney General. Some opinions on social media say the Attorney General should be protected, while others claim he should be removed. Certain reports even suggest that not only the Attorney General but also the Justice Minister should be sent home,” he said.

Minister Nanayakkara further said that if there are complaints against the Justice Minister or anyone else, the law of this country applies equally to all, and that complaints can be made.

“The government has no connection to what is published on social media. There has been no Cabinet discussion regarding the removal of the Attorney General or any impeachment against him,” the Justice Minister added. (Newswire)

The post No Cabinet talks on AG’s removal, says Justice Minister appeared first on Newswire.

Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara says that 17,000 suspects connected to various crimes were remanded last year and then referred to community correction.

He stated that these individuals were kept outside prisons under supervision, adding that this measure was taken to prevent overcrowding in prisons.

The Justice Minister further noted that steps will be taken to increase the number referred to community correction this year.

He made these remarks in response to a question raised by Samagi Jana Balawegaya’s Kandy District MP Chamindrani Kiriella. (Newswire)

The post 17,000 suspects referred to community correction in 2025 : Justice Minister appeared first on Newswire.

Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said the government has not established a timeline to amend laws which target the LGBTQI community, despite the inclusion of such reforms in the National People’s Power (NPP) manifesto.

Sections 365 and 365A of the Penal Code titled “unnatural offences” and “acts of gross indecency between persons,” respectively have historically been used to target and harass the LGBTQI community.

The NPP manifesto includes a commitment to repeal Section 365A, which penalizes consensual same-sex conduct. It also pledges to revise other discriminatory laws, including Sections 365 and 365A, which activists say oppress women, children, and marginalized groups.

In 2023, a Private Member’s Bill was introduced by Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP and attorney Premnath C. Dolawatte to decriminalize these sections of the Penal Code.

Speaking to Kalindu Karunaratne of Ada Derana, Minister Nanayakkara was asked whether the government has taken any concrete steps to amend these laws.

“There are no steps taken to amend these laws yet. I admit that it is in our manifesto, as we don’t believe that a person should be marginalised due to gender. Our policy remains the same, but we have not come up with a timeline as to when this will be brought,” he said.

Nanayakkara added that while the policy is clear, the government must consider potential public reaction before enacting legislative changes.

“The LGBT community has spoken with me, as has the Human Rights Commissioner of Sri Lanka. My response was that our policy remains unchanged. However, before introducing any legislation, there must be a well-informed and factual public discussion on the issue,” he said.

He said that timing is crucial in politics and that any decision in this regard would ultimately come from the Cabinet.

“The timing is decided by the Cabinet. Therefore I cannot make a statement alone that it will be brought in the next 6 months or so,” Nanayakkara said. (Newswire)

The post Justice Minister admits delay in LGBTQI law reforms despite NPP pledge appeared first on Newswire.

A letter signed by more than 240 activists, trade unions, CSOs, movements, lawyers, clergy, PTA detainees and academics has been addressed to the Justice Minister, calling for the immediate repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), without further delay.

The letter further requests that no terror law be brought to replace the PTA, citing 15 other laws in the penal code that currently exist, that can be used in the case of a “terror threat”. 

A 05-point recommendation has also been made, while also criticising the problematic composition of the Committee appointed to address the matter, and the lack of accountability for the incidence of violence and terror perpetrated by the State. 

Full statement; No Terror Laws – Committee Submission – Eng – FINAL

The post Letter to Justice Minister calls for immediate repeal of PTA appeared first on Newswire.

Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara was not informed ahead of presenting an award to former Sri Lankan Prisons Commissioner Emil Ranjan Lamahewa during a felicitation ceremony organized by the Prisons Department recently, Deputy Minister of Public Security Sunil Watagala said.

Speaking during an interview, the Deputy Minister said the organizers of the event had not informed the Justice Minister in this regard prior to the award presentation. 

He further said that the Justice Minister will soon issue a statement on the incident. 

Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara was criticised recently for having presented an award to former Sri Lankan Prisons Commissioner Emil Ranjan Lamahewa, who was convicted over the killing of prisoners during the 2012 Welikada Prison riot and had been sentenced to death by the Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar.

However, in August 2024, the Supreme Court ordered to acquit Emil Ranjan Lamahewa. The decision was delivered by a panel of five judges of the Supreme Court after accepting an appeal filed on behalf of Lamahewa against the sentence.

Emil Ranjan Lamahewa was felicitated by the Prisons Department recently for his 34-year service, with him receiving an award from the incumbent Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara at the event. (Newswire)

The post Justice Minister unaware of award presentation to controversial Prisons Chief appeared first on Newswire.

Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara has filed a complaint with the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) calling for a probe into the entering of erroneous data related to his education qualification in the Parliament database. 

Last week, the Parliament of Sri Lanka acknowledged that details regarding the educational qualifications of Minister of Justice, Attorney-at-Law, Harshana Nanayakkara on the Parliament website were wrong, citing erroneous data. 

Director of Legislative Services Jayalath Perera said that the title of ‘’Dr.’’ was mentioned before the name of Minister Harshana Nanayakkara, in the directory of Members of Parliament on the Parliament website, due to an error in entering the relevant data. 

Claiming that this did not seem an isolated incident, taking into account recent controversies around the education qualifications of government MPs, Minister Nanayakkara told the media today that it was essential to find out how such erroneous data was entered.

He further said that steps are also underway to file a civil case over the damage caused to his reputation by the various media reports published related to the matter.

The Justice Minister further highlighted that, however, the government was pleased that the public had commenced asking the right questions related to the Parliament.

“Earlier they questioned if an MP was selling ethanol or drugs, or how a convicted person was appointed an MP. Or discussions were on bar permits. Now the public is questioning the education qualification of MPs. This is the change brought by the NPP. This change alone is a victory for the government,” he said. (Newswire)

The post Erroneous data : Justice Minister goes to CID appeared first on Newswire.

The Parliament of Sri Lanka has clarified details regarding the educational qualifications of Minister of Justice, Attorney-at-Law, Harshana Nanayakkara on the Parliament website, citing erroneous data. 

Issuing a statement, Director of Legislative Services Jayalath Perera said that recent reports in the media have indicated that the title of ‘’Dr.’’ has been mentioned before the name of Minister Harshana Nanayakkara, in the directory of Members of Parliament on the Parliament website.

Jayalath Perera clarified that Minister Harshana Nanayakkara has not indicated holding a doctoral degree in the information provided to Parliament and that the title “Dr.” before his name is a result of an error in entering the relevant data. 

The Director of Legislative Services further announced that accordingly, steps have been taken to rectify this mistake.

“I express my deepest regret for the inconvenience caused to the Minister of Justice and National Integration, Attorney-at-Law, Harshana Nanayakkara, in this regard,” he further said.

Jayalath Perera also announced that the process of re-checking and updating the information of all Members of Parliament on the parliament website is currently underway. (Newswire)

The post Parliament accepts mistake of referring Minister as Dr. appeared first on Newswire.

Three key bills aimed at recovering stolen assets, deterring financial crimes, and protecting creditors and debtors will be presented to Parliament next year, Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said.

The Justice Minister said that the Proceeds of Crime Bill, Rescue, Rehabilitation & Insolvency Bill and Audit Act amendments will be presented to Parliament. 

Addressing the Parliament today, he further said that the Bills are expected to be presented to Parliament early next quarter. 

Explaining further, Minister Harshana Nanayakkara noted that these legislations are aimed at effectively deterring money laundering and drug trafficking.

He added that the Amendments to the Audit Act will improve creditor confidence and protect debtors’ rights. (Newswire)

The post Three key Bills to tackle financial crimes set for 2024 appeared first on Newswire.

Minister Ali Sabry has taken oaths as the new Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs, and Constitutional Reforms.

Minister Ali Sabry was sworn in before President Ranil Wickremesinghe today. 

The new ministerial portfolios come in addition to Minister Sabry’s existing portfolio of Foreign Affairs.

The Foreign Minister takes over the ministerial portfolios that were left vacant following the resignation of former Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe.

Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe recently resigned from his ministerial portfolios of Justice, Prison Affairs, and Constitutional Reforms due to contesting the upcoming Presidential Election. (Newswire)

The post Minister Ali Sabry appointed as Justice Minister appeared first on Newswire.

Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe has called on the Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka to conduct an inquiry into the activities of two judges in the Judicial Services Association of Sri Lanka. 

Issuing a statement, Minister Rajapakshe said the said judges had violated the circular issued by the Chief Justice in 2016 prohibiting judges from communicating with print or electronic media, and via social media. 

The Justice Minister pointed out that the justices had criticised the minister’s recent statement in Parliament concerning corruption among lower court judges.

He said the Judicial Services Association, via a statement, had criticised him for revealing such details in Parliament and for having called for action against such corrupt activities. 

In a letter addressed to Speaker of the House Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, the Justice Minister called for an inquiry to be conducted into the actions of the two justices and to summon them before the Parliamentary Committee on Ethics and Privileges. (Newswire)

The post Justice Minister calls for Parliament inquiry into two judges appeared first on Newswire.

Certain Police stations are violating laws pertaining to the possession of narcotics, Minister of Justice Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said. 

Addressing the media, the minister said that reports by the Government Analyst have proven that several drug-related cases are falsely reported by certain Police stations.

“People are arrested with substances considered narcotics and are remanded. However, this could also be powdered panadol. When the Government Analysts report is presented months later, it is reported that the substance is not illegal drugs. This is an unfair situation,” he said. 

The Justice Minister also stated that there are several complaints by the public of the Police wrongfully filing drug-related cases against some suspects for vengeance.

He further said that the Justice Ministry is looking at conducting an inquiry in this regard within the next few weeks and is also considering amending the laws to provide bail and assist those wrongfully remanded. (NewsWire)

The post Police arrests : Shocking revelation from Justice Minister appeared first on Newswire.