‘Judiciary should be independent as well as just’:

I’ll never influence the judiciary - President

President Mahinda Rajapaksa told media chiefs last week that he would never influence the judiciary. Nobody has such a right. He had, however, discussed matters pertaining to the judiciary such as welfare and training for Magistrates.

The judiciary should not only be independent but also just. In the event, the judiciary fails to mete out justice, people might lose the faith reposed in it. This is not in the interest of the society since the people have utmost faith in the judiciary, the President said.