Supreme Court Justice Yasantha Kodagoda says completing a single cycle of a criminal case in Sri Lanka takes an average of 10 years and 2 months, underscoring the severe delays plaguing the justice system.

Speaking at an event, Justice Kodagoda highlighted that there are currently 1.1 million cases pending across the country’s courts. 

These are handled by just 333 courts, including 80 magistrate courts, two child magistrate courts, 64 district courts, 94 combined district magistrate courts, 53 High Courts, five commercial courts, 23 civil appellate High Courts, seven judges at the Court of Appeal, and five divisions of the Supreme Court.

He noted that if cases were evenly distributed, each court would be burdened with more than 3,300 cases. The limited capacity of judges, legal officers, and support staff directly impacts the pace of justice.

Explaining the process, Justice Kodagoda said once a crime is reported, police investigate, the case is heard before a magistrate, charges are filed by the Attorney General at the High Court, and then the trial proceeds to conclusion. 

He pointed out that a 2013 survey revealed that this cycle takes over a decade to complete.

“As an example, if a burglary is reported today, the first phase of the case would only conclude in August 2036,” he said, stressing the urgent need for reforms to address systemic delays. (Newswire)

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Justice Yasantha Kodagoda, PC, took oaths as the Acting Chief Justice before the President of Sri Lanka at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo. 

He will perform the duties and functions of the Chief Justice during the period in which the substantive Chief Justice, Preethi Padman Surasena, and a delegation of Supreme Court judges are overseas on official matters.

Justice Yasantha Kodagoda is a distinguished member of the judiciary with more than three decades of service in Sri Lanka’s legal system. He began his career in the Attorney General’s Department in 1989 and rose through its ranks as State Counsel, Deputy Solicitor General, Senior Deputy Solicitor General, and eventually Additional Solicitor General. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the legal profession, he was appointed as a President’s Counsel in 2015.

He previously served as the President of the Court of Appeal before being appointed as a Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court on 3 February 2020.

The appointment of Justice Kodagoda as Acting Chief Justice ensures continuity in the leadership of the Judiciary and the smooth functioning of the Supreme Court during the absence of the Chief Justice. (Newswire)

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