Anti-impeachment protests to gather steam

Monday, 10 December 2012 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A massive protest has been organised at Lipton Circus today against the motion of impeachment against Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake. The protest will take place at 2 p.m. and demonstrators will agitate for the Government to stop interfering with the Judiciary.

Political parties, lawyers, trade union leaders and supporters of activist monk Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero, who is leading the Alliance for an Independent Judiciary, will participate in the demonstration. The UNP and JVP are also expected to take part in the protest. Seven Government members on the Parliamentary Select Committee found the Chief Justice guilty of three charges in a 14 charge impeachment motion on Saturday and handed their report over to the Speaker.

With the Chief Justice and the Opposition having walked out of the proceedings citing a lack of faith and inherent bias, the report is mired in controversy. The Chief Justice’s lawyers on Saturday said that the hasty summoning of witnesses was suspect since the defendant had been led to believe since November that there would be no oral evidence led or cross examination of witnesses permitted during PSC proceedings.

However, several witnesses including Supreme Court Justice Shirani Tilakawardane, Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivaard Cabraal, Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunge and representatives of the Trillium apartment complex that was mentioned in the charge sheet were summoned before the PSC late on Friday. Meanwhile the Platform for Freedom is also organising a seminar today to mark International Human Rights Day.

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe is expected to address the seminar and is likely to outline there the UNP’s stance on the Government’s move to remove the Chief Justice. (DB)