Petition seeking suspension of Anura, Nimal, Dilan and Susil’s position in the Bar

Tuesday, 27 November 2012 

A group of lawyers are gearing to present a petition to the Supreme Court seeking a suspension of the attorney at law posts held by governing party lawyers and ministers Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Dilan Perera and Susil Premajayantha, who are also members of the parliamentary select committee (PSC) probing the impeachment motion against the Chief Justice, it is reliably learnt. The lawyers have made the decision following the failure by the PSC to adhere to a request made by the Supreme Court to suspend the sittings of the Committee until a determination is given on the PSC proceedings and the impeachment motion.

Documents are currently being prepared to file the petition against the head of the PSC, Yapa and other governing party members de Silva, Perera and Premajayantha who have spoken against the Supreme Court request.

However, opposition members in the PSC, R. Sampanthan, Lakshman Kiriella and John Ameratunge, who are also lawyers, had requested that the Committee’s proceedings be suspended when it met on the 23rd.

Every lawyer is sworn before the Supreme Court and all their work is carried out by the Court. The powers of appointing a lawyer, taking disciplinary action against a lawyer and finally suspending their office are vested with the Supreme Court. Even the Executive President cannot re-appoint a person as an attorney at law once it is removed by the Supreme Court.

President’s Counsel, Jayatissa Costa has informed the governing party members of the PSC that such a petition is being prepared by a group of lawyers.