Govt. wanted to appoint one of its associates as CJ – SL

THURSDAY, 17 JANUARY 2013 

The appointment of Mohan Peiris as the Chief justice indicates the real interest of the government of removing Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake from the post and appointing one of its associates to the position says Senior Lawyer S.L. Gunasekera.

He further states the step taken by the government to appoint Mr. Mohan Peiris as the CJ shows that it has no regard for the independence of the judiciary or regarding taking measures against fraud and corruption.

Mr. Gunasekera said Mr. Mohan Peiris, as a person who had been accused, should not have accepted the post if he had an iota of self respect.

President explains Mohan Peiris’ appointment

Wednesday, 16 January 2013 

Most of the President’s confidantes asked him not to appoint Mohan Peiris to the post of Chief Justice. Among those who opposed Peiris were the architect of the impeachment motion against the former Chief Justice, Minister Basil Rajapaksa and Sinhala Buddhist forces like Ministers Wimal Weerawansa and Champika Ranawaka. Even Attorney and Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara who helped the breakdown of the judiciary had opposed Peiris’ appointment.

However, the President had explained the political importance of appointing Peiris to the post, which most of the persons who had opposed the appointment had failed to see.

Sources from Temple Trees said the President had explained to his closest advisors and others the reason for appointing Peiris as the Chief Justice.

The President had said several reasons for appointing Peiris and said that everyone would understand the importance in the appointment and that he could not have found any one more loyal than Peiris to the post.

Following are the reasons for appointing Peiris:

1.Peiris had only three years left for retirement.

2.Six Supreme Court judges are to retire next year after reaching the age of 65.

3.The government would not have to face any challenge from the judiciary for the next three years.

4.The interpretations of the new Chief Justice would be essential for issues related to the nest Presidential and other elections.

5.Opposition political parties are likely to file election petitions for the undemocratic acts that would have to be engaged in during the next elections for a government victory. In such an event, the decisions would be favourable to the government.

6.The inability to find someone as loyal as Peiris given his loyalties shows as the Cabinet advisor, founding Managing Director of Rakna Lanka under the Defence Secretary and Chairman of the Seylan Bank.