Sandasen MARASINGHE Courtesy The Daily News

* Conceals SC terms in the purchase of Trillium house

* Money paid in cash although PSC was told, by cheques …

The submissions made by Chief Justice Dr.Shirani Bandaranayake before the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) relating to the purchase of a house from Trillium Residencies was totally contrary to what transpired as per the record in the Supreme Court, Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Premajayantha said.

He made this observation yesterday at a press conference at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, organized by the PeopleƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Movement for Justice.

Minister Premajayantha further said that according to the Supreme Court records, the purchase of the house from Trillium Residencies in the name of two others using a special power of attorney licence should be made after a tender notice, with the approval of the Supreme Court, but in the documents submitted by CJ Shirani Bandaranayake before the PSC, the reference ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”with the approval of the Supreme CourtƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ had been omitted.

He added that the house had been purchased without the approval of the Supreme Court, which was an offence.

He also said according to the CJ the money had been paid for the house with four cheques, but the attorney who prepared the power of attorney licence had noted in the document that the money (Rs. 19 million) was paid in cash.

He added that the said document was the 823 deed handled by the attorney hence she {the attorney) was well experienced .The Minister added that a person who heads the countryƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s judiciary cannot simply say that she did not see it.

Minister Susil Premajayantha said in Commonwealth countries, India, Phillippines,the US, UK etc, the procedure followed to impeach the Chief Justice is almost the same. The procedure to impeach a Chief Justice and a Supreme Court Judge was introduced to the Constitution and the Standing Orders of the Parliament during the UNP regime. He added that this impeachment motion has been moved following the same procedure which was used to impeach two former CJs and three other Supreme Court Justices.

He also added that an impeachment motion was moved against former CJ Neville Samarakoon by Parliamentarians led by then Prime Minister R Premadasa. However, though Neville Samarakoon requested for two weeks time to file his submissions he was given only one week since the investigation had to be completed within one month.The Minister said the investigation was completed within one month to protect the dignity of the CJ.

The Minister said the PSC to investigate the impeachment charges against former CJ Neville Samarakoon too comprised six government parliamentarians and another three opposition members.

Minster Premajayantha also said with the moving of this impeachment motion, various organizations, including NGOs attempted to make this a political issue. He added that on the previous occassions no such protests were made at Hulftsdorp.

Western Provincial Council Minister Udaya Gammanpila also spoke at the press briefing.