Bar Association of Sri Lanka files FR petition against the impeachment of CJ

The Chairman of Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) Wijedasa Rajapakse and three others on Monday filed a petition in the Supreme Court citing that the impeachment motion against the Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake had violated their fundamental rights.

The petitioners cited that the impeachment was unconstitutional and the attempt to impeach the Chief Justice may have an impact on the Judiciary decisions on the Government and on the entire Judiciary system as well.

The Speaker of the Parliament, the eleven representatives of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) and the Attorney General are the respondents of the petition. The petitioners also cite that a bias occurs in the Parliamentary Select Committee process that probes the 14 counts of charges against the Chief Justice.

The 11-member Parliamentary Select Committee headed by Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa comprises seven Government members and four Opposition members.

Supreme Court last Thursday requested the PSC to suspend its proceedings until the petitions filed against the PSC are heard. However, the PSC held its first session on Friday as scheduled Dr. Bandaranayake appeared before PSC with her legal counsels. The charges against Dr. Bandaranayake include among others, not declaring over 20 bank accounts in declaration of assets and liabilities, not declaring Rs. 34 million foreign currency deposits, conduct unbecoming of a Chief Justice, misuse of power, and taking over cases, which involves her, from other benches.