100+ lawyers appear for CJ 43 at Magistrate Court

Tuesday, 17 September 2013 01:07 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Impeached CJ’s passport impounded
Asset declaration case to be taken up again in Feb 2014
BASL Chief asks international legal orgs to watch if Shirani B receives fair trial
Mervyn Silva, Namal Rajapaksa appear among names of BASL lawyers for ousted CJ

By Dharisha Bastians Attended by the President and some 100 members of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, impeached Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake created history as the first head of the country’s Judiciary to be hauled before court on charges filed by the Bribery Commission yesterday. Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya impounded Bandaranayake’s passport, an extension of the travel ban imposed on the ousted Chief Justice by the Bribery Corruption in the asset declaration case against her.

Counsel for Dr. Bandaranayake, President’s Counsel Nalin Ladduwahetty reserved the right to object at a future date if required. Ladduwahetty also informed court that he would tell the Court if his client required going overseas at any point. State Counsel Tilak Ratnayake appeared on behalf of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption, along with the Commission’s Legal Advisor. Counsel for the Commission informed Court that the case was reliant upon computer evidence that had to be ordered by the Court 45 days ahead of the trial date. The order for the computer data was thus ordered yesterday. BASL Chief Attorney-at-Law Upul Jayasuriya told reporters that the high turnout of lawyers to represent Dr. Bandaranayake was based on a decision made by the Bar’s Executive Committee and endorsed by the whole association. The BASL has written to international bar associations, urging them to stay alert and focused on this case to determine whether the ousted Chief Justice will receive a fair hearing by the Court. Dr. Bandaranayake’s Counsel Ladduwahetty PC marked over 100 lawyers as appearing on behalf of the impeached Chief Justice. Human Rights lawyer and activist J.C. Weliamuna and several other high profile anti-impeachment lawyers attended the hearing yesterday. Lawyers by the name of Mervyn Silva and Namal Rajapaksa were on the list of BASL members representing Dr. Bandaranayake, resulting in smiles around the courtroom yesterday. Dr. Bandaranayake was accompanied by her son Shaveendra Bandaranayake Kariyawasam.