In the period from 2019-2022, the Attorney General’s Department decided to drop charges in several high profile cases. No reasons were publicly given as to why charges were dropped. It is also in a context when the department seemingly had sufficient evidence to file indictments in the respective cases. These decisions to not proceed coupled with other factors that pose multiple challenges in obtaining justice highlights the grave threat to the Rule of Law and entrenched impunity in Sri Lanka.
The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) has previously highlighted the need for both structural and operational reforms to ensure the effectiveness and independence of the Attorney General’s Department.
Read the document in English here.