Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2018-01-16

Establishment of a Special High Court to inquire into legal proceedings expeditiously with regard to allegations of Bribery and Corruption and extremely complex charges on financial crimes

- Approval of the Cabinet has been granted to establish a High Court comprising of three judges specially designated to inquire into the legal proceedings expeditiously with regard to allegations of Bribery and Corruption and extremely complex charges on Financial Crimes. An amendment to the Judicature Act, No.2 of 1978, for this purpose, has been drafted by the Legal Draftsman.

Accordingly, taking into account, the objective criteria such as, the nature, gravity and the complexity of the offence, the impact of the crime on the victim or the state, the national interest etc., as the case may be, the crimes specifically mentioned in the Act, could be referred by the Attorney General or the Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, to the proposed High Court. The draft Bill has now been referred to the Attorney General for clearance. The above mentioned matters presented to the Cabinet by Hon. (Mrs.) Thalatha Atukorala, the Minister of Justice, were noted by the Cabinet.