CJ's lawyers call for commonwealth observers

Lawyers appearing on behalf of Sri Lanka's top judge have requested that impeachment proceedings should be conducted in the presence of observers from the Commonwealth nations.

The lawyers told the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on Tuesday (04) that in addition to observers from the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, the commonwealth observers should also be present at the hearing against Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, in order to ensure impartiality.

In a statement issued in November, the Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma expressed concern over government's move to impeach the top judge stating that 'the Commonwealth believes the preservation of the rule of law and independence of the judiciary are vital to the healthy functioning of a democracy.'

'Transparent and impartial'

Meanwhile, on Monday, hundreds of judges meeting in the capital Colombo issued a statement rejecting the parliamentary panel, saying, "the impeachment against the Chief Justice should be impartial and transparent."

The statement urged to stop the defamatory media statements against the Chief Justice and the judiciary and stressed that 'conducting an inquiry by the parties who brought the impeachment allegations is a blatant violation of the natural justice. We reiterate that nowhere in the world those who make allegations will hear their own case."  

The hearing of the PSC on 14 charges of corruption and other improper acts against the CJ adjourned to 6th December.

© JDS