Opposition calls for Parliamentary debate over fiasco of CJs

Friday, 30 January 2015 00:46 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Unhappy over the reinstatement of former Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake, Opposition lawmakers yesterday demanded a debate highlighting alleged threats to the Constitution and the legitimacy of Parliament. Leader of the Opposition Nimal Siripala de Silva informed the House that Chief Justice Mohan Peiris was forced to tender his resignation after being intimidated. “A complaint was lodged at the Cinnamon Gardens Police Station by Chief Justice Mohan Peiris, who reported being intimidated at his residence,” he said, demanding to know the details of the complaint made, the name of the culprit and the reasons the procedure which should have been followed in the removal of a Chief Justice from office were avoided. Referring to the removal of former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, MP Dinesh Gunawardena said: “Her removal is clear. Article 107 of the Constitution describes the procedure. So this Parliament accepted a petition and removed her on 11 January 2013 with 155 votes in favour and 49 against. The Speaker informed the President on the same day. So the President appointed Mohan Peiris as the new Chief Justice in line with the powers vested in him. Parliament is the only place where a Chief Justice can be removed. Getting her to occupy the seat of Chief justice threatens the democracy of Sri Lanka, the Parliament and the Constitution.”

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