Tamil Women Coerced into Joining the Military- Women’s Action Network
Crisis escalates as PSC finds CJ guilty of three charges
By Our Political Editor
= Bar Association considers resolution that lawyers should not appear before any new Chief Justice; appeals for action by international community= New CJ likely from next month as opposition and defence lawyers challenge the PSC process; US and EU also express concern
Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, who walked out on Thursday from the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) probing her, much to her surprise, received a compromise formula from a leading UPFA politician. The compromise would have ended all her woes.
She would have to tender her resignation. In return she would be appointed to “an important” position and charges of corruption against her husband, Pradeepa Kariyawasam, would be dropped. The offer was made during a telephone call on Thursday morning to one of her senior lawyers. The caller reportedly declared that some ‘unwanted confusion’ had been created. For obvious reasons, the lawyer had asked that he be not named. She did not respond favourably. Hence, the Parliamentary Select Committee process continued and reached finality.
We won’t recognise a new CJ: Lawyers signing a petition. Pic by Mangala Weerasekera
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Government MPs in jubilant mood addressing a news conference, criticising the opposition walkout
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Opposition PSC members staging a protest walkout . Pix by Amila gamage
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That was just one of the major highlights in a week that saw many a spark fly in the on-going open battle between the Legislature and the Judiciary.
On Thursday, ahead of the PSC resuming its probe, a government official made available to the media voluminous photocopies of documents.
They were ‘copies’ of transactions in accounts reportedly operated by Bandaranayake in the National Development Bank, Gazette notifications, cheques reportedly issued by her, a ‘deed’ for the purchase of a condominium apartment at Trillium Residencies in Narahenpita and her “Declaration of Assets.” The official said the documents related to accusations against the Chief Justice but independent verification of any alleged irregularities, misbehaviour, misconduct or wrongdoing, was not possible.
Also included was a four-page, unsigned document that claimed, as referred to in these columns last week, that alleged ‘accounts manipulation’ amounted as much as Rs 250 million in her bank account. Lawyers for the CJ refuted these allegations. They said in a statement that the amount involved was much smaller and Ms. Bandaranayake had utilised the money to buy Treasury Bills.
Concerns in the Government became high last Monday when judges and magistrates countrywide heeded a call by Chief Justice Bandarnayake to attend a meeting. Whilst some of the distant courthouses shut down for the day, in others the magistrates and judges had heard their cases before attending the event. The CJ, in a brief speech, said she had numerous requests for separate meetings with judges and magistrates. Since she could not find time to see them individually, she had invited all of them for the meeting. Thereafter, she gave an account of the charges against her. She vowed she was determined even at the cost of her own life, to vindicate her position.
She then withdrew but the meeting continued. Later the judges and the magistrates issued a joint statement calling upon the Government to protect the dignity of the judiciary from unwarranted attacks by sections of the media.
