Sri Lanka’s Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara has defended MP Lakmali Hemachandra, saying her controversial remarks about a court order were not an insult to the judiciary but part of an administrative discussion.
The controversy erupted after MP Lakmali Hemachandra, representing the National People’s Power (NPP), requested officials at a Provincial Coordination Committee meeting in Colombo not to enforce a court order to evict unauthorized residents from land in Narahenpita. Her remarks sparked sharp criticism from the opposition, with accusations that she had disrespected the authority of the courts and interfered with the judicial process.
Addressing the matter, Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara rejected claims of contempt. “I don’t think what she said was contempt of court. I don’t believe she interfered with the process of justice. It was an administrative discussion,” he clarified.
The Minister emphasized that while court orders must be respected, Hemachandra’s comments were made in a different context, focused on administrative and humanitarian concerns rather than challenging judicial authority.
The episode has triggered wider debate about the balance between judicial independence and political engagement in addressing sensitive community issues. Observers say the government’s stance may set the tone for future clashes between political decisions and legal enforcement.
