Dr.P.A.Samaraweera, Melbourne

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The Parliament on Friday 11th passed the Impeachment resolution for the removal of CJ Shiranie Bandaranayake. 155 MP’s voted for while 49 voted against. 20 had abstained.

The 43rd Chief Justice of Sri Lanka , Shiranie Bandaranayake,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ was an academic and had never practiced law. She wasƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ appointed to the Supreme Court in 1996 and became the first female Supreme Court Judge. There were objections to this appointment. In May 2011, she was appointed CJ.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
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While all these appearedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ onƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ surface,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ certain things unbecoming of a CJ wasƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ going on in the background. Last year her husband, who was Chairman of the NSB, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ was charged for misappropriation of funds. The Oppositon then demanded the govt for her resignation. Subsequently, when the govt moved an impeachment probe the same group backed the CJ. The opposition and other invisible hands made her a pawn to sling mud atƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the govt.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Once the impeachment motion signed by 117 members were handed over to the Speaker, the opposition, NGO’s, LTTE proxies and lawyersƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ rallied round the CJ. So sheƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ thought, she could have a go at the President, who stood against the mighty west and decimated the LTTE. When the CJ attended the PSC meeting she displayed her arrogance by refusing to take oaths. On the 3rd day she stormed out of the meeting. This was her disaster.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
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The CJ politicized the impeachment probe. She appeared with demonstrating lawyers, posed for photographs with lawyers dashing coconutsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and so on in the Supreme Court premises,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ never witnessed before. On the other hand lawyers meetings and protest marchesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ended in brawls. Thus the CJƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ split the lawyers. She hadƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ also brought dissension amongƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the Judges by altering those who normallyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ sit on the Bench. Further, someƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Judges have written to the President of the Appeal Court expressing their disapproval for the decision made with regard to issuing of a writ on theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Parliament.
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In the past, the CJ Shiranie had never been seen at religious ceremonies. WithƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the new developments, the CJƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ became extremely religious, frequented Temples, made poojas, had audience with religious dignitaries and so on. And she was followed by the media in the same way as a politician. The groups which supported her wanted to make the issue a powder keg but it backfired. The protest marches organised were a squib.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ She should be held solely responsible for the loss of dignity and prestige of the Judiciary.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ She had joined foreign powers and NGO’sƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to discredit Sri Lanka and destabilize the peace which had been won at great cost. Now the match is over for the CJ. The curtain hasƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ fallen for her.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
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ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The bankrupt politicians who wereƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  after Sarath Fonseka dumped him afterƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  the elections. Now that ShiranieƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  B is sacked she will be ditched by the Black-coats and others who were rallying round her.