Bar Association requests Chief Justice’s resignation
Monday, 19 January 2015 00:48
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The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has called on Chief Justice Mohan Peiris to tender his resignation to preserve the honour and integrity of the Judiciary.
The Bar Association in a statement released Friday said there have been reports that the Chief Justice Mohan Peiris was present at the Temple Trees on 9 January prior to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa announcement conceding defeat at the presidential elections. “It is reiterated and emphasised that it is absolutely essential for the Chief Justice and members of the Judiciary to remain strictly separate and uninvolved in political and executive decisions,” BASL said in its statement. The BASL reiterated and emphasised that a member of the Judiciary should not even be present in a place where any such decisions are being discussed.
The Executive Committee of BASL has requested the Chief Justice to deny that he was present at Temple Trees if the media reports were not true, which would “assist in protecting the honour and integrity of the Judiciary” in the face of those allegations. However, up to now the CJ has not denied the reports and the BASL has obtained materials which establish the presence of the Chief Judge at the former President’s residence prior to announcing his defeat. The Executive Committee of BASL said the circumstances and reports that have not been contradicted were causing “grave and continuing damage to the honour and integrity of the entire Judiciary and resulting in the total loss of confidence in the stability of Hon. Mohan Peiris to continue to function as Chief Justice”.
The Executive Committee of BASL, therefore, requested Chief Justice Mohan Peiris to tender his resignation in order to preserve the honour and integrity of the Judiciary.
