A senior delegation from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) met with Minister of Justice and National Integration, Attorney-at-Law Harshana Nanayakkara, to discuss a range of legal reforms aimed at strengthening child protection and improving the child justice system in Sri Lanka.
The delegation, led by UNICEF Executive Board President Rein Tammsaar, held discussions at the Ministry of Justice focusing on several key areas, including legal reforms affecting children, the use of video technology for obtaining testimony from child witnesses, and measures to expedite court proceedings involving children.
During the meeting, Minister Nanayakkara highlighted recent amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure that allow child witnesses to provide evidence through video technology, reducing the stress often associated with appearing in court. He also noted that awareness and training programmes are being conducted for judges to enhance the effective use of these systems.
The Minister further emphasized the importance of integrating child protection law into the curriculum of the Judges’ Training Institute and the Sri Lanka Law College to strengthen knowledge and awareness among future legal professionals.
Officials also discussed the expansion of facilities designed to record video testimony from children. Such facilities have already been established at courts in Kandy, with plans underway to introduce similar systems in courts across the country.
The discussion additionally focused on delays within the justice system. Minister Nanayakkara pointed out that vacancies in key institutions, including the Attorney General’s Department and other judicial bodies, continue to contribute to case backlogs. He assured the delegation that steps are being taken to address these challenges and improve the efficiency of the legal system.
The UNICEF delegation included Sophia Tesfamariam, Anna Jóhannsdóttir, Alejandra Hernandez Gonzalez, Claudio Silvio Nardi, Andres Franco, and Natalie Leston.
