Impeachment probe full steam ahead

• PSC to reconvene today; CJ before Committee again tomorrow
• Satyagraha at Hulftsdorp after CJ departs for P’ment
• Police attempt to prevent journalists entering SC Complex to witness CJ leave

By Dharisha Bastians

Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake appeared before the 11 member Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) probing the impeachment motion against her in Parliament yesterday, for marathon sittings that commenced at 10.30 a.m. and finally concluded at 4.30 p.m. It was the Chief Justice’s second appearance before the PSC.

The Committee broke for lunch and recommenced sittings at 2.30 p.m. According to Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakoddy, arrangements had been made at Parliament for the Chief Justice to have lunch if she so wished. “She was treated with the utmost respect and dignity,” he said.

The PSC adjourned after deciding to reconvene in Parliament today at 10.30. However Chief Justice Bandaranayake has been ordered to appear before the committee again tomorrow (6) at 2.30 p.m.

Chief Justice Bandaranayake left the Superior Court Complex at 9.45 a.m. after blessings were invoked on her by learned monk and Leader of the Alliance for the Independence of the Judiciary Ven. Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thero. While tying a ‘pirith noola’ on the Chief Justice’s hand, Sobitha Thero said, “Let justice be served. May the independence of the Judiciary be preserved.”

Speaking to the media following the Chief Justice’s departure to Parliament, Sobitha Thero said that even a murderer was given up to three months to submit their defence. “But the country’s Chief Justice is given one week,” he charged. “With this composition of the Committee, the verdict has already been given,” the Thero said. The Chief Justice was also blessed by Catholic priests present.

Hundreds of lawyers, monks, trade unionists and court complex staff gathered outside the building to wish the Chief Justice well before she headed to Parliament. Police personnel stationed outside the courts complex attempted to prevent the media and even some Buddhist priests from entering the premises.

However they were overruled by lawyers who arrived at the gates to inform law enforcement officers that the courts belonged to the people and not to the police and escorted the journalists and photographers into the premises. Huge contingents of police and STF personnel had been stationed outside the courts complex.

After the Chief Justice left the premises, the priests, lawyers and her supporters commenced a satyagraha inside the court premises.

Also present to wish the Chief Justice well was former Army Chief Sarath Fonseka who told media present that the Government had purchased anti-CJ protestors for a packet of rice and a bottle of arrack. “One supporter inside here is worth 500 outside, because they’re here according to their conscience,” Fonseka charged.

Constitutional lawyer and activist J.C. Weliamuna said that between 800-1,000 lawyers had been present at the courts complex yesterday morning. He said they had hailed from all the provinces around the country.

According to Weliamuna police were backing the anti-Chief Justice protestors stationed outside the gates of the complex and even allowed civil society members from entering the court premises. “We found that there were specific orders not to permit the foreign media to enter the courts to cover the Chief Justice coming out,” he said.