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Video: Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake resumes duties as CJ

28 Jan 2015 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Chief Justice-43 Shirani Bandaranayake has resumed duties in the office of Chief Justice as there had been no legal removal of her from the post, Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) President Upul Jayasuriya said.

Dr. Bandaranayake arrived at the Superior Court complex at Hulftsdorp this afternoon and took office at the chambers of the Chief Justice, after she was welcomed by Mr. Jayasuriya.

“There is no requirement for a new appointment therefore,” he told a news conference a short while ago and added that she will resign form her post tomorrow.

Lawyers of the Dr. Bandaranayake told the Daily Mirror that she had received a letter from the President’s office asking her to “resume duties,” on grounds that she was not impeached lawfully and therefore no vacancy existed for the post of Chief Justice.

Simultaneously, a letter had been sent to Chief Justice 44 Mohan Peiris to the effect that he had not been appointed as the Chief Justice and such appointment was void at its inception.

The events unfolded after a protest was organised opposite the Supreme Court, with protestors marching and shouting slogans demanding the immediate “removal” of the “Chief Justice”.

The protestors continued to be present outside the precincts of the Court complex till past noon as rumours spread about the imminent re-appointment of Dr. Bandaranayake.

At around 12.30 p.m. crackers were lit, with the sound of it being heard throughout the entire Court Complex including the Supreme Courts.

Two Courts of the Supreme Court, 403 and 502 were in operation at the time. The Court in which the Chief Justice sits, 502 had postponed all matters that were listed for argument, after the news was confirmed.

At around 1 p.m. Dr. Bandaranayake walked into the complex through the Justice Ministry entrance and was welcomed by lawyers present.

She thereafter proceeded to the Chambers of the Chief Justice which was marked “Chambers of the Chief Justice Hon. Mohan Peiris,” where many lawyers proceeded to wish her.

Thereafter, the judges of the Supreme Court had also proceeded to welcome her at her Chambers. (Hafeel Farisz)

Video by Sanath Desmond

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Video: Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake resumes duties as CJ

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