2011-01-02
Chief Justice Ashoka de Silva has handed in his letter of resignation to the President in protest against comments made by the President during a recent meeting with the Chief Justice, Lanka News Web reliably learns.
During a meeting with the Chief Justice to discuss affairs related to the judiciary at the end of the year, the President had asked de Silva as to the outcome of the cases that are before court against former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka. The Chief Justice had said the cases against Fonseka were biased and that they were in complete violation of natural justice. He had said that a majority of the Appelate Court judges were of the belief that people’s trust in the judiciary would erode and would bring disrepute to the country’s judiciary at international levels, if the Court Martial verdicts against Fonseka were endorsed by the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court.Angered by the Chief Justice’s comment, the President had asked if there had been any other state head who had provided the judges with many benefits that they are currently enjoying. The President had said that he knew exactly what needed to be done in the event the judiciary actions obstructed his rule.
The Chief Justice had responded by thanking the President for his kind gestures towards the judges and asked the President not to mix it up with the independence of the judiciary.
Unable to contain his anger at hearing the Chief Justice’s words, the President had walked out of the office. However, before leaving the meeting, the Chief Justice had informed the President’s Secretary that he could not carry out his duties under such a backdrop.
The Chief Justice had said that his self respect and the independence of the judiciary were important than an office. A few hours later, the Chief Justice had sent his letter of resignation to the President through the President’s Secretary.
Shocked by the Chief Justice’s move, the President however had not accepted the resignation letter. The President had asked his secretary to intervene in the matter and to inform the Chief Justice that the President regretted if certain comments made by him had hurt de Silva.
The President’s Secretary had said that it would be quite disastrous to try and shout at members of the judiciary and then ask them back in the manner in which politicians are treated.
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