UNP glad to join PSC probe against CJ
Posted on October 31st, 2012

by Shamindra Ferdinando-Courtesy The Island

The UNP yesterday said that it would gladly join the proposed special Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to inquire into allegations against Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake.

Deputy Secretary General of the UNP, Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena, MP, yesterday told The Island that the main Opposition party would definitely want to join the inquiry. Asked whether he was speaking for the party, Dr. Jayawardena said that the decision making Working Committee on Tuesday evening had decided that the UNP should be represented in the PSC.

The UNPer challenged the government to initiate the impeachment process by getting the parliamentary group to hand over its petition against the CJ to Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa without further delay. Jayawardena said that the PSC couldnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t be appointed until the Speaker received the petition.

The government couldnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t afford to further delay initiating action targeting the CJ, the MP said. Responding to a query, he said that the PSC would give the government as well as the Opposition an opportunity to discuss the issue.

During a live political debate on Swarnavahini on Tuesday night, Deputy Education Minister Vijith Vijithamuni Soysa, MP, revealed that he had already signed the petition. The Moneragala district MP declared that the government would impeach the CJ. He said so when urged by Jayawardena to reveal the UPFA position on the Chief Justice

Dr. Jayawardena alleged that the UPFAƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s two thirds majority in parliament had been achieved through illegal means by bribing members of other political parties to switch their allegiance for perks and privileges. That majority was now being used against all those who opposed RajapaksasƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ dictatorial tendencies.

Jayawardena said that the so-called UPFAƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s two-thirds majority was a joke.

Ministerial sources told The Island yesterday that once the Speaker received the petition, he would call for a party leaders meeting to decide on the PSC. Sources said that the proposed PSC would consist of seven, nine or 11 members representing major political parties represented in parliament.

When pointed out that Leader of the House Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva had assured the media on Oct. 10, 2012 that the CJ wouldnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t be impeached, sources said that the decision to move against the CJ had been taken subsequently. At that time the UPFA had felt that contentious issues could be resolved amicably, though subsequent developments necessitated different course of action, the sources said.

The impeachment motion against the Chief Justice would be handed over to the Speaker today, Government sources said last night.

2 Responses to “UNP glad to join PSC probe against CJ”

  1. Susantha Wijesinghe Says:

    This is one of the saddest moments in my life, to hear of the impeachment of the Chief Justice. It is a cardinal sin to push the CJ, out of her seat, just because she stood for truth and justice, just because she stood for integrity and for non interference in the Judiciary, just because she was clean in thought, word, and deed.

    The Legislators should not forget for a moment, that they are in Parliament, by the writ of the People of Sri Lanka. They never for a moment thought that they would gang up to use force to KICK ( Impeach) a Chief Justice out of her seat, which means losing her Job. She has done no harm to the Country. It was the President who appointed her, with much fanfare. It is now a slur on the President, when Parliamentarians gang up to Impeach her.

    I fervantly believe that the Legislators have a conscience of their own to act right, without perversion.

    I do hope that the President on second thoughts would avoid a glaring, demeaning, travesty of Justice.

    Chief Justice,!!! I wish you the Blessings of the NOBLE TRIPLE GEM, to stand by your convictions and safeguard Truth and Justice at all times.

  2. Dr.Rajasingham Narendran Says:

    The government is making a big mistake in pursuing its confrontation with the judiciary. The US and India provide good example of how the governments deal , cope and adjust to judicial independence and activism. The Senate and the appeal system to thePrivy Council were ablished for similar reasons, although the explanations given were high sounding. The Sri Lankan judiciary is taking tentative steps to assert its independence after years of subservience. This process should be encouraged when within the mandate the constitution bestows on the judiciary. I am personally glad that the TNA is seeking redress through the judiciary. This is a positive development that if taken forward will Sri lanka from within and prevent the TNA seeking cover behind an old or new tiger phenomenon or running around the world seeking solutions to internal issues. The judiciary and a fair justice system are safety valves in any nation that claims to be a democracy. UNP has been given the club to bludgeon the government on a platter!

    Dr.Rajasingham Narendran

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