The four opposition members of the Parliamentary Select Committee that is probing allegations against Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake had requested Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa to suspend its sittings at least for one month, Daily Mirror learns.

UNP MPs John Amaratunga and Lakshman Kiriella, JVP MP Vijitha Herath and TNA MP R. Sampanthan are the four members representing the 11 –member Select Committee on behalf of the opposition.  

They handed over a letter to the Speaker last Friday asking for the suspension of sittings for one month till the end of the budget debate on December 8.  
According to informed sources, they, along with the Parliamentary staff, have been exhausted with work, and therefore, they needed a respite during the remaining period of the year.

The Select Committee is scheduled to meet on December 4, 2012 to continue with the probe. Both the Government and the Opposition have admitted that the committee was only an investigative   body with no judicial power.  

The Chief Justice had already filed answers to the charges.  She was given time till November 30 to raise objections to the Select Committee process if necessary.

Besides, Speaker Rajapaksa ruled last week that any Court order against the Parliamentary process in this regard had no effect, and entailed no legal consequences. (Kelum Bandara)