Do we really honour our judicial process?

It was not long ago that we, as a nation, witnessed a political culture in which various actors sought to influence or interfere with the judicial process.

- Chula Goonasekera

Politicians competing for power, together with sections of the media, attempted to expose alleged wrongdoing by citing circumstantial evidence and publishing secretly recorded conversations. While some of these revelations may have served the public interest, they also raised important questions about the boundaries between transparency, media freedom, and due process.

However, what is happening today, often in broad daylight on state media channels, private media channels, and social media platforms, is equally concerning. Individuals come forward to explain, analyse, and sometimes even repeat statements made by victims, plaintiffs, the accused, witnesses, and providers of evidence during ongoing judicial proceedings. Such practices risk influencing public opinion before the courts have had the opportunity to examine the evidence fully and fairly.