President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has attributed delays in filling vacancies within Sri Lanka's superior courts to complications arising from the ongoing Easter Sunday attacks trial, stating he will complete the appointment process within one month.

President Dissanayake addressed concerns over unfilled positions in Sri Lanka's higher judiciary, explaining that the timing of judicial appointments has become entangled with developments in the Easter Sunday attacks case. He committed to resolving the situation within approximately one month, describing it as a definite commitment while outlining the complexities involved in the decision-making process.

The Easter Sunday attacks case represents one of the most significant matters before the courts, containing around 23,000 charges and nearly 3,000 witnesses. The president noted that the most senior judge currently serving in the High Court is presiding over the trial-at-bar for this case. This same judge is next in line for promotion to the Court of Appeal, creating a dilemma that the president described as requiring careful consideration. Promoting the judge could impact the ongoing trial, while delaying his career progression raises separate fairness concerns.

The president examined the situation at different levels of the judiciary and concluded that the Court of Appeal faces greater staffing pressures than the Supreme Court. He stated that transferring multiple judges from the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court while leaving vacancies at the lower level would be impractical. The president rejected suggestions that vacancies were deliberately maintained to benefit particular individuals, asserting instead that the Easter Sunday attacks case was the sole reason for delays. He emphasized that his objective was ensuring fairness in relation to this matter of significant importance to society.