Issues behind President’s tussle with the judiciary
Only moments earlier, Rajapaksa had diffused a crisis after Ms. Fonseka, the heart throb of cinema lovers in Sri Lanka, was asked to step down as MP. She quit only to be told by Rajapaksa that she should withdraw her resignation. It was too late. Hence, she will soon be sworn in as a new MP.
Needless to say the break would affect her claims to a parliamentary pension. The JSC in what appeared to be an unprecedented statement claimed there was “baseless criticism” of it and on the judiciary by the electronic and print media. It said, “various influences have been made” regarding decisions taken by the Commission and cited disciplinary action against a judge as an example. What was more disconcerting to UPFA leaders was a paragraph which said “�. an attempt to convince the relevant institutions regarding the protection of the independence of the judiciary and the JSC over the attempt to call for a meeting with the chairperson of the JSC, who is the Hon. Chief Justice and two other Supreme Court Judges, was not successful. The JSC has documentary evidence on this matter.” JSC Secretary Manjula Tillekeratne said “I have been instructed by the Commission” to issue the statement.
By Our Political Editor-Sunday, September 30, 2012
= Weeratunga writes second letter to CJ explaining reasons for the meeting with Rajapaksa
= Ministerial team and Government lawyers appointed to work out course of action
= Ministerial team and Government lawyers appointed to work out course of action
Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake receiving her letter of appointment from the President
Last Monday evening, actress Malini Fonseka was leaving the hallways of “Temple Trees,” once the home of British businessmen, an editor, colonial rulers and later for decades by democratically-elected leaders of Sri Lanka. I walked in to greet President Mahinda Rajapaksa and sit down for a 90-minute conversation.
Present was Bandula Jayasekera, President’s spokesperson. Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga was to join in later. If he sat in a chair placed in the middle, chairs in two rows on his left and right, on the floor that has seen how the country’s history has been shaped by its leaders over the years, were empty. “My commitment to ensure an independent judiciary is uppermost. I cannot understand why there should be such unfounded accusations against me or my government,” the President said. He was alluding to the statement issued by the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) Secretary on Tuesday September 18. The full text of the statement appeared in The Sunday Times (political commentary last Sunday), for the first time in an English newspaper.Only moments earlier, Rajapaksa had diffused a crisis after Ms. Fonseka, the heart throb of cinema lovers in Sri Lanka, was asked to step down as MP. She quit only to be told by Rajapaksa that she should withdraw her resignation. It was too late. Hence, she will soon be sworn in as a new MP.
Needless to say the break would affect her claims to a parliamentary pension. The JSC in what appeared to be an unprecedented statement claimed there was “baseless criticism” of it and on the judiciary by the electronic and print media. It said, “various influences have been made” regarding decisions taken by the Commission and cited disciplinary action against a judge as an example. What was more disconcerting to UPFA leaders was a paragraph which said “�. an attempt to convince the relevant institutions regarding the protection of the independence of the judiciary and the JSC over the attempt to call for a meeting with the chairperson of the JSC, who is the Hon. Chief Justice and two other Supreme Court Judges, was not successful. The JSC has documentary evidence on this matter.” JSC Secretary Manjula Tillekeratne said “I have been instructed by the Commission” to issue the statement.
“I wanted them to be present for a discussion in the light of the next budget. I wanted to make sure their financial requirements and other needs are met when the budget is presented in Parliament. I also wanted to discuss how foreign scholarships and other training programmes for judges had to be enhanced,” Rajapaksa told the Sunday Times. In the past, he said, those who held the office of Chief Justice and Judges of the Supreme Court had heeded calls to attend such meetings and did not in any way consider that “an interference in the judiciary.” He added, “It is incumbent on me to ensure the smooth functioning of the judicial system in the country. I can only find out the shortcomings by asking them what they need and what steps have to be taken.” He said he would place all the facts before the public when he meets editors of national newspapers and heads of electronic media on Thursday.
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