Constitutional Council reconfirms earlier recommendations to SC

• Recommends Court of Appeal Chairman Justice Preethi Padman Surasena to the third SC vacancy created by retirement of Justice Eva Wanasunda

The Constitutional Council (CC) yesterday approved President Maithripala Sirisena’s recommendation to appoint Court of Appeal Chairman Justice Preethi Padman Surasena as a Supreme Court judge while reconfirming nominations made last year. 

The Constitutional Council unanimously approved appointment of Justice Surasena to the Supreme Court to the vacancy created by the retirement of Supreme Court judge Eva Wanasundera, while also reconfirming the earlier nomination to appoint Justice Gamini Amarasekera and Justice S. Thurairaja to the Supreme Court. The Council also made a recommendation for the appointment to Court of Appeal to the position made vacant by Justice Surasena. 

The President did not appoint the two judges to the Supreme Court whose names were forwarded to him by the Constitutional Council last October. Later he recommended two more names but were rejected by the Constitutional Council. 

The Constitutional Council, chaired by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, was attended by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Minister Thalatha Atukorale, Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, JVP MP Bimal Ratnayake and Dr. Jayantha Dhanapala. Prof. Naganathan Selvakumaran and Javid Yusuf were also present at the meeting, a statement issued by the Speakers Office said.