Let-Off For Sri Lanka On Axeing Of Judge
Nicola Smith
The Commonwealth’s secretariat has been accused of covering up a damning report that described the impeachment of Sri Lanka’s most senior judge as “unlawful” and “unconstitutional”.
The revelations will add to concerns about the human rights record of the island, which is controversially hosting this November’s summit for the heads of government of the 54-nation group.
Shirani Bandaranayake, Sri Lanka’s chief justice, was impeached in January after she fell foul of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s regime, which brought a series of corruption charges against her, all of which she has denied. Her removal sparked an outcry: Britain, America and the United Nations expressed concern.
Two reports were commissioned by the secretariat, from a former South African chief justice, Pius Langa, and Sir Jeffrey Jowell, a London QC.
Read more in the Sunday Times UK
