Eminent UK jurist finds ex-CJ Shirani innocent

A report commissioned by the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales on the Sri Lankan impeachment of the 43rd Chief Justice has found that Shirani Bandaranayake was innocent of the three charges of misconduct brought against her.

The report calls for the withdrawal of Colombo as the next host of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Colombo, saying it will allow the Sri Lankan Government to preside and thus make a mockery of the Commonwealth.

The report compiled by senior UK human rights lawyer and Queens Counsel Geoffrey Robertson said that Bandaranayake’s removal from office in January was a political reprisal.

Robertson’s report states that the seven Parliamentary Select Committee members who convicted her and the 117 MPs that submitted the motion of impeachment against her containing false and fabricated charges should be refused entry to Britain and have their bank accounts in the country frozen.

“Sri Lankan political leaders treated the head of their judiciary as if she were public enemy number one, abusing the democratic process to put her through an unfair trial as punishment for doing her constitutional duty and then celebrating her unjust removal with feasting and fireworks,” the report by Robertson concludes.

The distinguished jurist was the first President of the UN Court in Sierra Leone and a member of the UN Internal Justice Council which disciplines UN judges.

The Bar Human Rights Council of England and Wales (BHRC) in a covering letter for the report said it had been gravely concerned about the impeachment of the Chief Justice of Sri Lanka and has recognised the need for an objective account and analysis of the proceedings leading up to her removal.