The Mahanayake Theras of the three main Nikayas have requested President Mahinda Rajapaksa to reconsider the need for the impeachment motion against Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake that had been handed over to Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa by ruling party MPs on Thursday.

Mawatte Chapter Mahanayake the Ven. Thibbatuwawe Sumangala Thera, Asgiriya Chapter Mahanayake the Ven. Udugama Sri Buddharakkhitha Thera, Amarapura Nikaya Mahanayake the Ven. Dawuldena Gnanissara Thera and the Ramanna Nikaya Mahanayake the Ven. Napane Pemasiri Thera have in a letter to the President said it appeared that there was an atmosphere of crisis in the country and among the international community, centered round the impeachment motion against the Chief Justice.

“Irrespective of which is supreme out of the three entities -- the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary -- when it comes to safeguarding law and order of the country it is clear to any person who respects the principles of democracy that all three institutions are not second to each other in supremacy, the four prelates have said.

They said that the law was bonded with human civilization and was for the welfare of human beings and therefore the essence of Buddhist law was to consider it as the duty to subjugate the unrighteousness and propagate righteousness by controlling behaviour of individuals and ensuring the well-being of society.

The Mahanayakes said they considered it the supreme duty of all those who expected the well-being of humanity, to create an environment where the law could be implemented independently and impartially.