CJ quizzed by CID over coup plot at Temple Trees

Saturday, 24 January 2015 02:53 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Dharisha Bastians Sri Lanka’s Chief Justice Mohan Peiris was yesterday grilled by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over a complaint filed about an alleged plot to hold power by force on election night by the defeated Rajapaksa regime. Peiris, appointed Chief Justice by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in January 2013 following the impeachment of Shirani Bandaranayake, was spotted at Temple Trees, the defeated president’s official residence in the early hours of 9 January.

The Chief Justice was questioned in his Chambers on the fifth floor of the Supreme Court complex, in a development without precedence. Public Security Minister John Amaratunga confirmed that the CID had questioned the Chief Justice on the complaint. Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera filed a complaint at the CID last week, naming Chief Justice Peiris as being involved in a discussion about the alleged coup being plotted by the defeated regime. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who went to Temple Trees at 5 a.m. on 9 January, reportedly accosted Peiris in the premises. Peiris is mired in controversy after he was spotted at Temple Trees, an election operations centre of a candidate in the 2015 presidential election while results were being released. The Bar Association has publicly called for his resignation over the controversy, which lawyers say gravely impacts the honour and dignity of the Judiciary. Pieris is negotiating for diplomatic postings with the current administration in exchange for his resignation from office, BASL President Attorney Upul Jayasuriya told Daily FT on Thursday.

CJ’s ‘spokesman’ is ex-Navy officer, lawyers say Senior lawyers are raising questions about Chief Justice Mohan Peiris’ ‘spokesman’ Wijeratne Kodippili, saying there is no provision for the head of the Judiciary to make such appointments. The ‘spokesman’, a lawyer said he was authorised to speak on behalf of the Chief Justice, to inform the public that Peiris had not resigned from office. A media statement on the Chief Justice’s official letterhead had also been issued by Kodippili, Attorney at Law J.C. Weliamuna told Daily FT. Weliamuna said upon inquiries they had found that Kodippili was a former naval officer, who had been removed from the Sri Lanka Navy and taken oaths as a lawyer two years ago. “Where is the provision for the Chief Justice to appoint a spokesman? Who pays for such an appointment,” Weliamuna queried. Statements on behalf of the upper Judiciary are customarily issued by the Judicial Services Commission, of which the Chief Justice is the ex-officio Chair. Lawyers would meet over the weekend to decide on serious action against the head of the Judiciary, he added.

Nivard says disappointed with allegations, confident of being vindicated In response to widespread allegations and reports, former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal yesterday expressed disappointment and expressed confidence that the true position would emerge and he would be fully vindicated in time to come. Following is the full text of the statement issued by Cabraal: I refer to the recent complaints made to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption pertaining to my conduct. I also refer to the media reports that my passport has be “seized” by the CIABOC, in order to ensure I remain in Sri Lanka. In this connection, I wish to state that I have served the Central Bank and the country conscientiously, professionally and diligently, thereby contributing significantly to the major improvements in the Sri Lankan economy in the past eight-and-a-half years of my tenure as the Governor. In that background, I am deeply disappointed at the wide publicity that has been generated for the “charges” contained in the complaints, as well as the other scurrilous stories that have been deviously placed in various websites and social media.

Nevertheless, I believe the true position will emerge once a proper understanding of the matters at issue are known to the public, and therefore I am confident that the current attempt to vilify and discredit me would be unsuccessful, and I would be fully vindicated in time to come. I also wish to state that since resigning from the position of Governor on 9 January, I have vacated the Governor’s official residence by 15 January and have since moved to a private residence in Colombo, having no intention of leaving the country. At the same time, I wish to sincerely thank the many friends, well-wishers and fellow citizens who have expressed their gratitude for the work done by me during the period I served as the Governor.

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