Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara has instructed relevant officials to provide the necessary infrastructure quickly to establish courts in official residences previously used by former ministers.
Minister Nanayakkara gave these instructions during an inspection visit on Thursday (12 Feb) to official residences handed over by the Ministry of Public Administration to the Ministry of Justice for the establishment of special High Courts.
As part of the Anti‑Corruption Action Plan (2025–2029), four official residences previously used by former ministers have been temporarily allocated to the Ministry of Justice to expedite court proceedings.
Accordingly, the official residences located at No. B/88 Gregory Road, Colombo 07; No. C/76 Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 07; No. B/108 Wijerama Road, Colombo 07; and No. B/12 Stanmore Crescent, Colombo 07, were inspected by the Minister.
At the residence at No. C/76 Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 07, a special High Court has already been established to hear cases related to the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks. The Minister instructed officials to expedite the provision of further necessary facilities at this location.
The residences at No. B/88 Gregory Road, Colombo 07; No. B/108 Wijerama Road, Colombo 07; and No. B/12 Stanmore Crescent, Colombo 07, were also inspected, with discussions held on providing the required facilities to establish courts there.
Meanwhile, the Justice Minister, together with ministry officials, also participated in a special inspection tour of the completed Magistrates’ Court building complex under the Hulftsdorp Court Complex project.
Due to renovation work at the Supreme Court complex, Supreme Court proceedings had been temporarily conducted at the completed Magistrates’ Court building complex.
Since renovations at the Supreme Court complex have now been completed and proceedings have returned there, discussions were held on the possibility of establishing five new High Courts within the Magistrates’ Court building complex to expedite judicial proceedings.
Senior officials of the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Public Administration, and the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau participated in the inspection tour. (Newswire)