Legal expert: Proposed IPO should be answerable to Parliament, not Executive

GoSL response to war crimes allegations:

- BY SHAMINDRA FERDINANDO

The proposed Independent Prosecutor Office (IPO) should be answerable to the Parliament, former Human Rights Commissioner Prof. Prathibha Mahanamahewa, says.

Prof. Mahanamahewa said so in answer to a query raised by The Island regarding the Justice and National Integration Minister Attorney-at-Law initiating process meant to introduce an IPO in line with United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) dictates. He emphasised the proposed mechanism shouldn't be placed under the executive under any circumstances.

The intended establishment of an IPO is in line with UNHRC 55/1 and 60/L/1 resolutions, lawyer Mahanamahewa said, adding that a similar set up had been discussed here in the '70s. "Such mechanisms are in operation in the UK (Crown Prosecution Service), Kenya (Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions), South Africa (National Prosecuting Authority) and Jamaica (Director of Public Prosecutions).' The Independent Prosecutor's Office couldn't successfully operate in isolation, Prof. Mahanamahewa said, underlining the responsibility on the powers that be to ensure wide reforms in the police department as well as in the court system. The desired objectives couldn't be achieved unless the government was ready to go the whole hog, he noted.