CJ asks Speaker to appoint impartial panel

7 December 2012 10:44 am - 19 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

Lawyers of Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake in a letter to Speaker requested to postpone the impeachment hearing until an impartial panel is set up to probe her.

“The people of the Country (the Sovereign) have an inalienable right that their Chief Justice be given, a fair trial by an independent and impartial tribunal in keeping with the universally accepted rules and norms,” the letter signed by attorney K. Neelekandan said.

The full text of the letter sent to the Speaker by Attorneys-at-law Neelakandana and Neelakandan yesterday follows:

We are instructed by our Client, Hon. Dr. Shirani A. Bandaranayake.

As you are no doubt aware, our Client has withdrawn from the proceedings of the Select Committee and the reasons have been given.

We write to request you to defer any further action until an independent and impartial panel is appointed to inquire in to the allegations.

Our Client is absolutely innocent of the allegations and is convinced that she will be exonerated of any wrongdoing by an independent and impartial tribunal.

Our Client re-iterates that the charges are baseless and groundless and can easily be refuted. The issue is of broader and of wider relevance than our Client’s rights and affects the integrity and independence of the judiciary.

Thus in the interests of the judiciary and in the interests of the country and in the interests of our Client, we request that our Client be given the opportunity of vindicating herself before an independent and impartial tribunal.

The people of the Country (the Sovereign) have an inalienable right that their Chief Justice be given, a fair trial by an independent and impartial tribunal in keeping with the universally accepted rules and norms.

We annex herewith for your ready reference, the proposal contained in the draft Constitution of the year 2000 with regard to the procedure for removal of the Judges (Chief Justice).

Thus, we request you to defer from taking any further steps until an independent Committee is appointed to inquire into the matter.

Related stories

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 - 19

Imran Hussein Friday, 07 December 2012 11:28 AM

Malkanthi, he is not helpless, he is all out to help his bro.

RoshanHAN Saturday, 08 December 2012 04:40 AM

OH SRI LANKAN IS NEXT PAKISTAN?

Calistus Jayatilleke Saturday, 08 December 2012 04:02 AM

What impartiality when all the powers are concentrated in one family : elder brother as Speaker, younger brother as President and two other brothers in very powerful positions. It is futile to ask for impartiality from such a government.

Nodrog Saturday, 08 December 2012 03:51 AM

MR, like you did with WW, please give a sip of water to someone and end this madness. Stop trying so hard to maintain the #1 position as being the biggest jokers in the world.

Sam. Friday, 07 December 2012 01:25 PM

To save face,H.E the President can desolve parliament. No other option.

Cobra Friday, 07 December 2012 12:56 PM

The cows will come home before that!

Andrew Pitugala Friday, 07 December 2012 12:47 PM

Impartial? The Government does not know the meaning of the word, just like they do not know the meaning of Democracy.

abb Friday, 07 December 2012 12:36 PM

Now we can see who is powerful in a family, Elder Brother(Lokka) or Younger brother (Maddumaya)

Sonna Boy Friday, 07 December 2012 11:40 AM

Impartiality in Sri Lanka?

Mervin Aiyya Friday, 07 December 2012 11:34 AM

You should ask it from the person who appointed her. This is not the time to talk about the appointment but the effort to remove her.

anne Friday, 07 December 2012 10:50 AM

Will the regime has a backbone to do this ????

Imran Hussein Friday, 07 December 2012 11:25 AM

Chamal will never allow this. If there is an impartial panel these allegations against the CJ will be thrown away in no time.

sbd Friday, 07 December 2012 11:19 AM

well said thamara. This is the most biased speaker Sri Lanka ever had!

Sodha-paluwa Friday, 07 December 2012 11:17 AM

Cj post, was it a regular appointment? How come she by passed all the other judges and risen to the highest position in the judiciary?

Tharma Friday, 07 December 2012 11:10 AM

The Speaker himself is not impartial since he is the brother of MR

Citizen Perera Friday, 07 December 2012 11:09 AM

Has this regime ever appointed a impartial panel? Classic example is Gen Fonseka's case.

malkanthi Friday, 07 December 2012 11:03 AM

Sorry the speaker himself is helpless in this issue!

Suresh Friday, 07 December 2012 10:59 AM

100 % agree with the CJ's request with international Judges as it's independent observers.

Ranjith Friday, 07 December 2012 10:59 AM

Madam and his lowyers are trying to checkmate the uneducated foolish Gvt. members. It is nice us to watch the drama

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.

CJ asks Speaker to appoint impartial panel

Comments - 19

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

‘Spike in blast fishing’ poses renewed threats to Sri Lanka’s marine ecosystems

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Most Viewed in News

Ranil Wickremesinghe caravan moves on despite barking dogs

Sri Lankan among NASA’s new crew for next simulated Mars journey

Street food vendor arrested for verbally harassing foreigner

Complaint lodged over Piumi Hansamali's possession of Gota’s Range Rover

Train fails to halt, crashes onto Colombo Fort platform

Former MP Palitha Thewarapperuma dies from electrocution

MIRROR CRICKET

Is Chamari Athapaththu Sri Lanka’s greatest cricketer ever?

Athapaththu back atop ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings

Chamari Athapaththu sets big goal for T20 World Cup

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

TODAY'S HEADLINES

SL took minimal steps to punish officials who committed human rights abuses: US report

Iranian President’s visit Sri Lanka withstands western pressure

25 tons of solid waste disposed along Sri Pada route

Temperature rises to ‘Caution’ level

Sri Lanka secures third spot in South Asian Kurash Championship 2024

Athapaththu back atop ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings

Army forms committee to probe Diyatalawa Fox Hill Supercross accident

Indian cricket manager indicted for Legend Cricket League match-fixing allegations