Impeachment of a Judge in the Indian Parliaament

Under article 124(4) of the Constitution, notice or notices of Motion with supporting documents, and signed by not less than 50 Members of Rajya Sabha is/are submitted to the Chairman, Rajya Sabha, praying for removal of a Judge of High Court/Supreme Court.

Where do we go from here?

Railway workers have been the indicator of dissatisfaction among the government sector workers even before the independence. Still they act as the barometer to test the pressure in the government sector.

Editorial - save democracy

The Court of Appeal will hold a crucial session tomorrow on the petition filed by Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake challenging the findings of the Parliamentary Select Committee which probed the charges in the impeachment motion against her.

No person with self-respect will agree to be appointed new Chief Justice: S.L.

It’s not a question of opposing a motion as such, but it’s a question of opposing a move to impeach the Chief Justice from becoming a political circus and the procedures that are used in this circus. There must be fair play and to my mind there is no fair play at all in this entire process.

Globalisation in retreat

One fateful question for 2013 is this: What happens to globalisation? For decades, growing volumes of cross-border trade and money flows have fueled strong economic growth.

2013: Vital year for democracy and justice - Editorial

A New Year dawned today with the usual extravagant five-star balls while some half a million people were seriously affected by floods, earthslips or landslides in 21 districts.

THE FRIDAY FORUM COMMENTS ON THE NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION : Need to IMPLEMENT LLRC

Over the last two years, the Friday Forum has been engaged with the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) by making submissions to it, commenting on its progress, following up on its interim recommendations and welcoming and making our observations on its final report.

Can another Second PSC play a better job?

President Jayawardene manipulated the presentation of an Impeachment Resolution to remove the then CJ Neville Samarakoon on March 3, 1984 as the then CJ had strongly resented the interference of the Executive President in the Independence of Judiciary.

Indian gang-rape victim cremated in private ceremony

The victim of a gang-rape and murder which triggered an outpouring of grief and anger across India was cremated at a private ceremony on Sunday, hours after her body was flown home from Singapore.

Editorial - May the rule of law prevail in the days to come

Year 2013 dawns amidst loud and sparkling fireworks, bringing with it many aspirations and expectations as the New Year usually does. There is commonness in the wishes that are exchanged back and forth; there is a hope for happiness and good health.

I SEE NO REASON TO RESIGN

Q:Although you say you do not perceive yourself as a “rebel” MP I am sure you must be aware of reports describing you as one. There have also been reports that you were to be moved out of Parliament on account of you being a “rebel”and that your  National list MP slot would be given to Mr. Rohitha Bogollagama. It was also said that Mr. Bogollagama would be appointed External Affairs minister thereafter. Is this a like

Parliamentary Select Committees : Integrity etc

An article in a state-run newspaper conveyed the impression that Neville Samarakone resigned when the Impeachment Motion was moved against him. My recollection was that he boldly appeared before the P.S.C, had his say, and was unanimously exonerated.

A crumbling regime

The embattled regime in Syria has suffered yet another blow. Syria’s military police chief Major General Abdul Aziz Jassim Al Shallal has joined the rebellion and fled the country to neighbouring Turkey.

Editorial - How the sacred cow was sacrificed to TNC demigods

The Daily Mirror, in its Editorial yesterday, spotlighted the grave economic crisis Sri Lanka is facing. The Central Bank, in a rare instance of transparency, revealed that Sri Lanka’s per capita debt had soared to more than Rs.308,000.

New Year resolutions on drugs, alcohol and tobacco

After the orgy of food, drink and presents at Christmas we will have a week to think of our sins before the New Year arrives...

Surviving on borrowed money: Per capita debt Rs. 308,000

Though the world did not end and there was no three-day darkness as feared by superstitious crackpots or horror-scope...

2013: How many years more till they hear the cry for justice?

A new year is just three days away. As usual, hundreds, if not thousands, of people will greet you, wishing you a prosperous...

CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS IMPACT ON SOCIETIES

The key issue that climate change researchers must explore in Sri Lanka is to access conflict-affected sites to assess impacts of climate change on the highly vulnerable IDP communities so as to build their resilience through resettlement which is both sensitive and responsive to climate change.

Mahela: Golden glove faces SLC’s iron fist

The holiday mood in the country may have pushed political issues off the front pages only to give way to that other favourite pastime of Sri Lankans, cricket, and making news this week was national cricket captain Mahela Jayawardena.

Human rights offices soon at Dubai airports

Round-the-clock human rights offices will be set up at all Dubai airports next year to clamp down on human trafficking and other exploitation, according to officials.

Prorogue Parliament to settle crisis - Editorial

In the afterglow of Christmas on Tuesday, there is a ray of hope of a compromise on the middle path to settle the unprecedented constitutional crisis over the move to impeach Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake.

Impeachment of a Judge in the Indian Parliament

The Indian judiciary is an important organ of our state and commands considerable respect from the people of India for dispensing justice impartially. The independence and integrity of the members of the judiciary has always been a crucial element in the functioning and maturing of our democracy.

Christmas in space

Despite the paparazzi, balloons and a few anaemic Santa Clauses prancing around, there’s no real Christmas this time. All that Kumbhakarna can see is another slide down the depressingly downward economic spiral that’s dragging down all but the rich and the politically connected, with everyone else trying to keep up appearances with the desperation of the newly impoverished.

Power spares none Not even the Judiciary

President Rajapaksa, exerting his considerable talent to deal with populist pressure claimed that, despite the government driven impeachment process finding  Lanka’s Chief Justice culpable on certain charges, he would act ‘according to his conscience’ and appoint an ‘independent committee’.

Editorial - A people's right

Those who try to interpret the ongoing battle between the Judiciary and the Executive as a personal dispute may be blind to the fact that the manner in which the latter has been behaving in the process reeks of partiality.

EXECUTIVE POWER TO PARLIAMENT Strengthen 13 amendment

The Lanka SamaSamaja Party was established with the Suriyamal Movement 77 years ago, on 18 December, 1935, under the leadership of N M Perera, Colvin R de Silva, PhilipGunewardena and S A Wickremasinghe, to continue the anti-imperialist struggle and win complete independence from British rule.

Christmas is a “Mystery” forever

In a little town in Bethlehem a unique event in the history of the mankind that shook the world took place over twenty centuries ago. It was the birth of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace called Christmas.

Taleban strike back

The Taleban seem to be on a rampage. For the last couple of months they have targetted important government installations, and killed people who mattered in the war against terrorism in Pakistan.

Christmas: Liberation from self-centredness - Editorial

Today is Christmas. The very word conjures up a feeling and sense of joy. People refer to the word Christmas when they want to describe moments of great joy and great favour. We hear them say ‘it was like Christmas when this unexpected windfall came my way’. Why is Christmas linked with joy, celebration and goodness? What is the joy it brings to us?

INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY

I was indeed pleasantly surprised when your President invited me to address you today. It is eight years since I retired. Though I  have been very busy addressing here and abroad many a meeting on legal, social, religious, literary, historical  and many other allied subjects,