Government keeps up effort to remove chief justice
Tuesday 04 December 2012
Printable
EmailSri Lanka chief justice Shirani Bandaranayake appeared before a parliamentary committee for a second time today to answer impeachment charges.
Government supporters took to the streets calling for Ms Bandaranayake's (pictured) resignation, while Buddhist monks, Catholic priests, opposition MPs, judges, lawyers and trade unionists rallied in support of her.
The government has accused Ms Bandaranayake of misusing power and having unexplained wealth. She denies any wrongdoing.
Opposition parties insist that the impeachment attempt is unjustified and is aimed at stifling judiciary independence and concentrating power with President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Sri Lanka's influential Buddhist monks, lawyers, trade unions and rights activists have called on the government to withdraw the motion, saying it threatens the judiciary's independence.
"We urge the government to withdraw this motion even at this stage," said lawyers' spokesman JC Weliamuna.
He said the "government is hell-bent on getting rid of the chief justice" for ruling against it several times.
If you appreciated this article then please consider donating to the Morning Star's Fighting Fund to ensure we can keep developing your paper.
Editorial
Disregard for human life
Nothing will bring back the hundreds of British soldiers killed fighting in Iraq at Tony Blair's behest.
Features
Cameron's G8 house of cards
Under a modicum of scrutiny the PM's international 'achievements' quickly unravel
A strategy for our victory
The Con-Dems have had it their way too long. We have to turn this country around