CJ meets UN Special Rep despite Speaker’s assurance to stop it: MR

Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday the visiting UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Freedom of Association, Clement Nyaltessoi had met the Chief Justice on Tuesday despite the Speaker's assurance to stop the scheduled meeting with judicial officers on Tuesday.

He told parliament that there had been only one occasion where such a meeting with foreign officials and the Chief Justice had taken place in history, which was during the tenure of Prasad Kariyawasam as the Foreign Ministry Secretary.

"This is the second time such a meeting has taken place," he said. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said there had been a meeting with the special rapporteur and the Chief Justice and added that it was a courtesy call in the company of foreign ministry officials.

He confirmed that no judicial officer had met the special rapporteur as planned. The Speaker appreciated the moves taken by the opposition MPs including the Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa to inform the House about the said meeting which allowed him to act swiftly to stop it. (Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera)