International battle ahead; possible questions from Commonwealth

Sunday, January 27, 2013

= Independent media barred from ceremonial sitting to welcome CJ 44, witch-hunt of CJ 43 continues
= Cabinet reshuffle likely tomorrow, PM to continue, President furious over senior minister’s remarks on PM successor
= Army Board issues report, contradicting LLRC recommendations; new National Oil Company to handle exploration and production

By Our Political Editor

Armed troops and police surrounded the superior courts complex, the citadel of the country’s judicial system in Hulftsdorp last Wednesday, for the second time in two weeks. Last week they kept protesting lawyers at bay as the newly appointed Chief Justice Peter Mohan Maithree Peiris drove in through the back entrance to the premises to assume office. Their only task this time was to keep the private media away from covering Peiris formally assuming duties as Sri Lanka’s 44th Chief Justice.

There were neither protests nor demonstrations outside the complex this time; just a formal boycott by the Bar Association. Journalists from the private media, photographers, video cameramen, reporters and foreign correspondents were stopped at the gates. Whilst they waited, a court security official walked up to the entrance of the Supreme Court and shouted “who is the cameraman from ITN?” He was identified. He waved him to come forward and the gates opened. He was asked why the others were being debarred. The reply came in double quick time. The Marshal of the Courts had given instructions. Moments later, a camera unit of the state television broadcaster Rupavahini drove in one of their vehicles after the gates were opened wide for them.�

A lawyer appeals to enter Court Premises and debarred, Private Media look on. A police bus is on stand-by. Pic by M.A. Pushpakumara

For the first time in the country’s legal history, there was censorship on a ceremonial event held to make a nation learn that a new Chief Justice was being ceremonially welcomed. A photographer from the Government Department of Information was taken in and the office later distributed one photograph of a select group of judges from both, the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal seemingly enjoying a chat with Chief Justice 44 Mohan Peiris. They included Justice Shirani Thilakawardene, Satya Hettige Eva Wanasundera and Rohini Marasinghe. Significantly, there was no group photograph of Peiris with the rest of the Justices of the Supreme Court as is customary.

This is whilst Shirani Bandaranayake, who maintains she is still the Chief Justice, was busy trying to meet another challenge, this time from a fresh front. The Department of Inland Revenue has gone into top gear this week to raise a number of queries from her on monetary transactions mentioned during the impeachment resolution passed by Parliament. This is on the basis that she had not disclosed large amounts of money from certain transactions. She is to tell them that no millions of rupees were received. “The witch hunt continues,” remarked a legal counsel representing her. “The lightning speed at which tax people have reacted shows there is more to come,” he warned speaking on grounds of anonymity.

At the weekly cabinet meeting on Thursday, Rajapaksa cautioned his ministers to be careful when they visit other countries and hold talks with dignitaries or officials. Some polite denials have been construed by the host countries as having agreed to their requests, he pointed out. He revealed that External Affairs Ministry Secretary Karunatilleke Amunugama has brought this to his attention on Thursday morning, just ahead of the cabinet meeting. However, Rajapaksa did not reveal which Minister or the name of the country where the incident reportedly occurred. Some Ministers wondered whether this in any way related to the visit to India by External Affairs Minister, G.L. Peiris.�

At the same cabinet meeting, Rajapaksa won approval for a major change in the laws governing petroleum exploration. The Government Information Department said this was “with the view to meeting the required legal standards of global expectations of the petroleum industry as well as to introduce the principles of good governance into Sri Lanka’s Oil and Gas Industry.” However, there was more. The task of exploring oil deposits is to be vested in the hands of a National Oil Company, the Sri Lankan partner in all future foreign deals. This will mean the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) will have no role once the new laws are enacted. Read More