CJ to appear before PSC on 23 November?

By Ashwin Hemmathagama

Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake is expected to be summoned in front of the Parliamentary Select Committee on 23 November to face the inquiry on the 14 charges included in the order paper of 6 November with the signatures of 116 Members of Parliament.

“I am sure that she will not plead guilty but stand up against these charges. If so, the committee will start hearing the witnesses, taking a considerable period to file its findings,” a committee source told the Daily FT.

Meanwhile, yesterday the motion filed enabling the submission of a resolution to be presented to the President for the removal of the Chief Justice Dr. Mrs. Upatissa Atapattu Bandaranayake Wasala Mudiyanse Ralahamilage Shirani Anshumala Bandaranayake was considered by Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, by appointing a select committee with 11 Members of Parliament.

The committee held its first meeting last evening and has decided to send the motion that contains 14 charges, which need to be responded to on or before 22 November 2012 by the Chief Justice or her lawyers.

This select committee appointed in terms of Article 107 (3) of the Constitution read with the provisions of Article 107 (2) and Standing Order 78 A of Parliament headed by Minister of Environment Anura Priyadharshana Yapa includes Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management and the Leader of the House of Parliament Nimal Siripala de Silva, Minister of Petroleum Industries A.D. Susil Premajayantha, Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Dr. Rajitha Senarathne, Minister of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Dilan Perera, Minister of Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Wimal Weerawansa, Deputy Minister of External Affairs Neomal Perera, UNP MP Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunga, UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella, DNA MP Vijitha Herath, and TNA MP R. Sampanthan.

Expressing concerns about the composition of this select committee, which raises serious questions about impartiality, Amaratunga told the Daily FT that Government had turned down the request to include more members from the Opposition to make the numbers equal.

This select committee will also report to Parliament that one or more of the charges that have been levelled have been proved after the aforesaid charges of misconduct have been investigated.