SC Bench Picked By De Facto CJ Mohan Pieris Puts Off Shirani B impeachment And His Own De Facto Appointment Challenges
September 26, 2013
Several cases challenging the controversial ouster of Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake and putting in of Mohan Pieris to perform the functions of the Chief Justice were due to be taken up today (26.09.2013).
Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake
The special bench tasked with the job of hearing the case is made up of Justices Saleem Marsoof, Chandra Ekanayake, Sathya Hettige, S. Eva Wanasundara and Rohini Marasinghe. However, only four of these judges sat today. Marsoof was absent. Therefore the cases were all postponed for 23.10.2013 when other cases relating to these issues are being taken up.
According to reliable sources close to the government, the plan is to somehow try and give some appearance of legality to the controversial actions of the Rajapaksa regime that are being challenged in time for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be held in Colombo in mid-November.
UNP Taking Stock After Humiliating Polls Defeat
September 27, 2013
The main opposition United National Party is once again taking stock following its disastrous defeat in the recently concluded provincial elections, party insiders say.
UNP MP Harin Fernando told a news conference today that the leadership was seriously considering proposals for change put forward by several factions within the party.
Speculation is rife that the UNP may seek to field parliamentarians Karu Jayasuriya, Sajith Premadasa and Harin Fernando as its chief minister candidates at the upcoming Western, Southern and Uva provincial elections to give the party a fighting chance.
However anti Ranil factions within the UNP warn that the plan maybe another strategy by the party leader to neutralize the three MPs.
Meanwhile plans are afoot to also reappointJayasuriya to the party’s working committee at its next meeting in early October it is learnt.
