Faith in the legal system restored - Justice Hettige

by Sarath Malalasekera

The Bench and the Bar welcomed new Court of Appeal President Justice Sathya Hettige PC at a ceremonial sitting held at the Superior Court Complex recently.

Associated on the Bench with the new President were Justice Sarath de Abrew, Justice, S.I. Imam, Justice Sri Skandarajah, Justice W. L. Ranjith Silva, Justice Sisira de Abrew, Justice Eric Basnayake, Justice Rohini Marasinghe, Justice Anil Gooneratne, Justice A.W.A. Salam and Justice Upali Abeyratne.

Commercial High Court Judges, High Court Judges, Colombo District Judge, Additional District Judges, Colombo Chief Magistrate and Colombo Additional Magistrates were on the dias.

President Counsel, senior and junior members of the official and unofficial bar, and close relatives of Justice Hettige were among the distinguish gathering.

Court of Appeal Registrar, Ms. M.M. Jayasekera and Deputy Registrar Sanath Pinnaduwa officiated.

"The law, I have served for three decades. And never has the law become such a part of people's daily lives than in recent times. Faith in the system, it seems, has been restored. Human beings unlike other beings, have "free choice" and this has enabled them to sometimes act in their self interest.

Hence, the need for the law, to guide those who work for the collective good of society and act as a deterrent against those who work against it.

"The law, then, is a social necessity, which aims to work for the collective good of all by resorting to a sense of agreed reason and accepted norms.

Thus we see the development of concepts of "due process," "natural justice," "fair conduct," "fair competition" etc., the principles which have now become embedded in our legal system, said Justice Sathya Hettige.