Thu, 28 Mar 2024 Today's Paper

Video: Sarath Silva does another U-turn

26 May 2015 11:18 pm - 40     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

Former Chief Justice Sarath Silva launching a scathing attack on the present government, saying that it ‘was illegal from its inception.’ He said that he ‘regrets having lit the fire’ by opposing President Rajapaksa’s candidacy. 

Silva, in a speech at the Organisation of Professional Associations lashed out at the government listing three aspects in which he believed the government had failed.

“I didn’t expect Maithripala Sirisena to contest the last election. The moment he announced his candidacy I knew this wasn’t moving in the right direction. They sent me a list of meetings at which I was to speak. I put the list into the dustbin,” he said.

This is in sharp contrast to statements given to the media, including Daily Mirror, in which he unreservedly supported the candidacy of Sirisena.

“The only issue I had with President Mahinda Rajapaksa was my opposition to the 18th amendment. I don’t think it is good for a person to contest thrice. That’s why I opposed it. I lit this fire by saying that he couldn’t contest a third time, and I regret it,” he said.  

He likened the presnt government to a ‘pickle which is hard to digest.’ “I must be honest, I reluctantly voted for Maithripala because I didn’t believe that Rajapaksa should have contested thrice. Thereafter I watched the swearing in. The Chief Justice wasn’t present, a tradition that was upheld for a long time.

That’s the first thing. And then suddenly Ranil Wickremesinghe takes oaths as Prime Minister. This is whilst a Prime Minister was still in his seat. Is that good governance? This government was illegal since its inception,” he said.

Silva, detailing his second criticism, said that the manner in which Mohan Peiris, the then sitting Chief Justice was removed reduced the judiciary to a ‘comedy.’

“I told Mahinda not to appoint him and instead to appoint a career judicial officer. It was Mohan who gave Mahinda many of the dead ropes. But still he was the sitting Chief Justice. There is a process through which he could be removed specified in the Constitution. Instead, the President just signed a letter while Mohan was outstation and then the previous one was brought in. Then she also resigned. It’s a comedy really. Anyone reading history in a few years time will actually wonder if this was some street show,” he said.

His third criticism, which he dealt with at length, was a complete analysis of the Gazette notification under which the Financial Crimes Investigation Division was appointed.

Pointing out basic spelling errors prior to embarking on his analysis, Silva said that the law did not recognise “grievous financial crimes”. “It’s grievous bodily harm. This document is a joke, and it’s Ranil Wickremesinghe’s doing. None of the so-called crimes specified in the gazette are recognised by the penal code. They have also been mandated to investigate large scale projects, how can the Police do that?” he asked.

He said that one of the main areas of concern was the limiting of freedom by the present government. “Article 13(1) of the Constitution says that you can’t arrest a person unless it’s in a manner prescribed by law. The manner prescribed by law is found in the Criminal Procedure Code. But none of what they are doing is prescribed in the code,” he said.

Whilst continuously attacking Wickremesinghe, Silva said that the very fact that the Magistrate’s Court‘ was kept open till nine in the night, was evidence of vengeance’.

“This is not good governance. This is vengeance. In which country are magistrates’ courts opened at nine o’clock in the night? Is this the good governance that they spoke about?” he asked.

He said that the country was going down a ‘dangerous path’, and that he had ‘never experienced a pickle like this in the entirety of my life’.

“If I was a judge I would have called the IGP and arrested the IGP. Remanding or arresting a person is not a joke. You have to be very careful when making that decision; this is something that I always told judges when I was on the bench,” he said. 

He further said that the fact that President Rajapaksa had left Temple Trees as soon as his defeat was announced was evidence that he had realised his faults.

“We have to respect the man for that. There was no conspiracy because if there was the CCTV cameras would have shown. None of that happened -- and it’s a lie. He left Temple Trees in a dignified manner; and for that we should respect him. He is a man we can mould -- unlike Wickremesinghe,” he said.

He further said, “Colombo and the urban middle class will accuse me of everything. That is because they don’t question and instead believe everything Ranil Wickremesinghe and the rest tell them. For those in Colombo and the urban middle class everything they do is right,” he said. (Indika Sri Aravinda and Hafeel Farisz)


WATCH

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

  Comments - 40

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka
  • H Wednesday, 27 May 2015 03:20 PM

    Alo, Sarath, how much did Mahinda lokka give you?

    Namith Wednesday, 27 May 2015 10:34 AM

    Senile, Natural with old age

    Shamantha Welgama Wednesday, 27 May 2015 10:34 AM

    Law is for the betterment of the general public.I wonder how this idiot became the CJ in Sri Lanka ?Majority of Sri Lankans does not like him.Its very difficult to find real public servents,real professional in Sri lanka now a days.

    Nanda Wednesday, 27 May 2015 10:37 AM

    Most of us now realized what went wrong and how actually we got caught to propaganda machinery of our FM. Recent example is of cutting down cost of proposed highways, by reducing number of lanes and length of bridges, it shame that we made a mistake. but still we like our President Mithripala.

    Waco Wednesday, 27 May 2015 10:41 AM

    RW is a write-off.

    nishantha Wednesday, 27 May 2015 10:51 AM

    PLEASE KEEP QUIET "GEDARA YANNA GAMAN " YOU GOT A BLOW SO HUSH YOU INFIDEL!!!!!

    upali Wednesday, 27 May 2015 11:39 AM

    Now the truth is elicited. Not too late also.

    rew Wednesday, 27 May 2015 12:40 PM

    Do we have to listen to someone as crooked as a cork screw?

    Mithun Wednesday, 27 May 2015 02:40 PM

    Get a bed ready at Merchants ward

    Jayasingha Wednesday, 27 May 2015 03:06 PM

    Very correct. If you study the electoral wise election results it clearly shows Ranil and UNP wins only in the Colombo and main towns.

    PRADEEP Wednesday, 27 May 2015 10:32 AM

    He is a main who started the give judgement according to the politicians ambitions.

    Ryan Hudson Wednesday, 27 May 2015 05:05 PM

    Almost all are fed up with this gawapalana regime.

    Parakrama Abeygunawardane Thursday, 28 May 2015 10:33 AM

    This man is a lunatic. He should be in Angoda

    suranjith lal Thursday, 28 May 2015 11:17 AM

    This person is similar to an rotten egg no use for anything just dump him. his personal behaviour in the past judgments he gave while stay as CJ made people to judge him who he is now. must be with a crack in his brain too.

    Ranjit Thursday, 28 May 2015 01:39 PM

    Sarath, you are not responsible for what people think about you. But you are responsible for what you give them to think about you.

    kanga Friday, 29 May 2015 08:42 AM

    You are a disgraceful x CJ and for your alma mater.

    Nimal Friday, 29 May 2015 11:23 AM

    Nominating right party members to contest Parliamentary elections is the next challenge and the parties who do a good job here are expected to get better results this time as people want to to see a speedy elimination of corrupt politicians in the Parliament.

    Smart Citizen Saturday, 30 May 2015 06:50 AM

    This man is the biggest KAVATA JAVANIKAWA (Joke)

    nwijeratne Saturday, 30 May 2015 10:59 PM

    Some retired CJs. ....COCKy Jack assess.

    Sudath Tuesday, 02 June 2015 08:55 AM

    This bugger is responsible, for the mess we were in.I thought he asked to be forgiven. He should be dumped in the Diyawanna where he was involved in nefarious activities.WHAT I CANNOT BELIEVE IS HE WAS PREACHING BUDDHISM ON TV!!!!!

    Sarojini Rajapase Wednesday, 27 May 2015 09:28 AM

    Absolutely Raj you are right man. This fellow should stay at home. Who invited him as a speaker? Money Rajapakse has bought this retired goat. He should shut his mouth or he will be the next. Money makes theare GO.

    Naga Wednesday, 27 May 2015 05:26 AM

    What is so funny about the statement of this idiot is that he is still talking about interpretation of law. He has been there by accident and became the main cause of the attrition of judiciary in Sri Lanka. He should have been confined to a maximum security institution long long ago.

    Veda-mama Wednesday, 27 May 2015 05:34 AM

    ARTHEN ATHATA PANINA KURULLA........BIMATA VATUNOTH....CHORA KURULLA.

    sri lankan Wednesday, 27 May 2015 05:41 AM

    A man with an ever expanding list of regrets and it will not stop.

    palle Wednesday, 27 May 2015 05:52 AM

    “Colombo and the urban middle class will accuse me of everything. That is because they don’t question and instead believe everything Ranil Wickremesinghe and the rest tell them. For those in Colombo and the urban middle class everything they do is right,” Absolutely. These people think RW was sent by God, and have a blind faith on him.

    Raj Wednesday, 27 May 2015 05:56 AM

    money speaking

    moda Wednesday, 27 May 2015 06:04 AM

    What is he talking???? As per the constitution any one can be president as long as properly elected.Is he has mind problem or get some millions from MR.

    Kalu-Bayya Wednesday, 27 May 2015 06:06 AM

    You are wright. Bur, Colombo middle class will not tolerate act of this illegal government. You know there were tea shirt printing by some public entities for May day rally last month by the so called YHAPALANA UNP ministers. Only way to humiliate and harassed citizen of this country by POLICE JUNTA of VIDULAKARA

    Chris Wednesday, 27 May 2015 06:24 AM

    This pervert is also responsible for subverting the law to suit his masters when CJ. What ethics for him?

    mohamed Wednesday, 27 May 2015 09:27 AM

    addmit him in the mental hospital as soon as others wise lot of regret after doing what a judge (pissa)

    Punchidrala Wednesday, 27 May 2015 05:23 AM

    He must have been regretting since the time he was born.Now we regret for having a person of this nature in our midst.

    Sarojini Rajapakse Wednesday, 27 May 2015 09:32 AM

    Did he ever speak about how General Sarath Fonseka was treated by Mahinda Rajapakse, may be he has forgotten OLD AGE !!

    siva Wednesday, 27 May 2015 09:39 AM

    yes correct this man never expected MS as a president condidate. instead this guy was expecting everyone will ask him to be the candidate which was not happent, thats the reason now started barking... this fellow also greedy for the power and position like sf...

    Giabao Wednesday, 27 May 2015 09:46 AM

    but what he says make sense too............ gedara yana gaman bulty dana eka thamai joke eka.

    Cyril n Wednesday, 27 May 2015 09:49 AM

    This man is changing colours like a "Katusa". He is disgruntled probably he could not get anything from Maithree and/or Ranil. They knew him and his changing tongues like "Helping Hambantota".

    Gasnesha Wednesday, 27 May 2015 09:57 AM

    No sensible person can take this nut case serious whose judgement was always partial and his period of justice led the country gloomy in all aspects and and seeking cheap pleasure according to some media

    sara Wednesday, 27 May 2015 10:01 AM

    called politics by judiciary

    Eng. M.V.R.Perera Wednesday, 27 May 2015 10:08 AM

    His Interpretation of the law is for himself for he should know that it is parliament that makes the laws and it is the duty of the Judges to interpret them also any new law overrides the former laws if there is any ambiguity or contradiction

    Wellwisher Wednesday, 27 May 2015 10:17 AM

    Shameless Man!!!

    onlooker Wednesday, 27 May 2015 10:23 AM

    This man only serves himself. Why do you give him publicity.


Add comment

Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Reply To:

Name - Reply Comment





Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

VAT increase: SOUNDs death knell for publishers, readers

Though the Government imposed VAT (Value Added Tax) on vegetables and other e

How female change-makers are driving Sri Lanka’s energy saving platform

Saving energy has become more of a responsibility than a habit in today’s c

A dull Ramadan awaits Muslims amidst the Soaring Cost of Living

In the coming days, Muslims across the world will welcome the Holy Month of R

New wildlife underpass to curtail HEC

As of February 2024, Sri Lanka lost another 38 elephants as a result of the H

MIRROR CRICKET

More