The United National Party (UNP) yesterday decided to nominate Senior Vice President and MP Lakshman Kiriella and Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunga to the proposed Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC), which will probe charges against Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, party officials said yesterday. Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa has asked the ruling party to nominate seven members and the opposition four members to the PSC.

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) are expected to nominate one member each.

Mr. Kiriella said he and Mr. Amaratunga would participate in the proceedings of the select committee and urged that the entire process should be transparent.

“We called for the presence of international observers. The media can also play a role. The proceedings should be opened to the media,” he said.

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) MP Vijitha Herath said his party had not decided whether to participate in the deliberations.

“We will take a decision after a careful assessment of the matter,” he said.  

House Leader and Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva also said that the government had not nominated its seven members to the PSC yet. The Government had levelled 14 charges against the Chief Justice. (Kelum Bandara)