Minister of Justice and Law Reforms Milinda Moragoda during his first visit to the Legal Aid Commission head office recently was received by the LAC Chairman S.S.Wijeratne, Commissioner Manohara de Silva, PC, Upali Gooneratne, Rohan Sahabandu, Dr.W.D.Rodrigo, Swarna Perera, Uditha Egalahewa and Secretary of the Commission Lilanthi de Silva.


The Minister addressing the LAC staff said that as access to justice for the poor is essential to protect the human rights of the poor, he will on the basis of the Commission’s recommendation’s take the necessary steps to improve the delivery of legal aid to the poor people.


He also stated as he was a member of the International Commission on legal empowerment of the poor, he will try to get the support from the UNDP who was the sponsor of the Commission.


LAC Chairman S.S.Wijeratne handed over a collection of LAC publications to the Minister and stated that during the past four years, Legal Aid Centres in the island were increased from 9 to 49 and another 15 centres would be added this year with the assistance of the Access to Justice Program of the UNDP.


Until all the 85 court complexes benefit from legal aid, the LAC cannot state that Sri Lanka has a completer legal aid program.