The battle lines are clearly drawn in Sri Lanka, with influential Ministers saying the government will go ahead with the impeachment of Chief Justice Shirani >Bandaranayake on January 8, while a court will hear her petition on January 7.
The main opposition United National Party (UNP), seen as supporting the government owing to its refusal to argue on behalf of the embattled judge, said on Sunday that the government must enact a legislation on removal of judges so that Parliament would be in line with the Supreme Court’s ruling. It said that the Private Members Bill titled “Removal of Judges of the Superior Courts” of which Member of Parliament Wijedasa Rajapaksa had given notice, should be tabled and passed.
Last Thursday, Sri Lankan Supreme Court determined that a Parliamentary Select Committee had “no legal authority” to declare guilty or pronounce a decision affecting the rights of the judge.
