Govt. popular but CJ’s impeachment a risk to institutional credibility

Standard Chartered Bank’s commentary on credit alert on Sri Lanka has noted that the Government remains popular, but has cited the move to impeach the Chief Justice as well as the delay in political reconciliation post-war as concerns.

“The Government continues to enjoy widespread popularity, as reflected in its strong performance in provincial council elections in 2012. However, it faces ongoing international criticism for its role towards the end of the civil war in 2009, and political reconciliation with the Tamil minority is still at an early stage. Also, the Parliament’s recent initiation of impeachment proceedings against the Chief Justice has raised concerns about institutional credibility,” the sub section on political stability on Sri Lanka in SCB’s report stated.