SRI LANKA: Hundreds of people in the capital of Colombo stage a peaceful rally in support of Sri Lankan Chief Justice, who faces impeachment charges

Record ID: 213815

  • Title: SRI LANKA: Hundreds of people in the capital of Colombo stage a peaceful rally in support of Sri Lankan Chief Justice, who faces impeachment charges
  • Date: 4th December 2012
  • Summary: COLOMBO, SRI LANKA (DECEMBER 4, 2012) (REUTERS) SUPREME COURT PROTESTERS OUTSIDE THE SUPREME COURT BUILDING ARMY COMMANDER AND LOSING PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SARATH FONSEKA WITH PROTESTERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) SENIOR HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER J.C. WALIAMUNA SAYING: "We have been convinced that this is a political victimisation because she has given a large number of judgments recently which the government didn't agree with." CHIEF JUSTICE SHIRANI BANDARANAYAKE GETTING READY TO LEAVE FOR PARLIAMENT SUPPORTERS SURROUNDING CHIEF JUSTICE SHIRANI BANDARANAYAKE VARIOUS OF BUDDHIST PRIESTS BLESSING CHIEF JUSTICE SHIRANI BANDARANAYAKE CHRISTIAN PRIESTS BLESSING CHIEF JUSTICE SHIRANI BANDARANAYAKE CHIEF JUSTICE SHIRANI BANDARANAYAKE GETTING INTO CAR CHIEF JUSTICE SHIRANI BANDARANAYAKE LEAVING FOR PARLIAMENT FOR THE SECOND DAY OF HEARINGS FOR THE IMPEACHMENT MOTION (SOUNDBITE) (English) SENIOR HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER J.C. WALIAMUNA SAYING: "It has already developed into a conflict between the judiciary on one hand and Parliament and executive which is virtually one and the same body, on the other" VARIOUS OF GOVERNMENT ORGANISED PROTESTERS OUTSIDE THE SUPREME COURT SHOUTING ANTI CHIEF JUSTICE SLOGANS VARIOUS OF POLICE OUTSIDE THE SUPREME COURT
  • Embargoed: 19th December 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Sri Lanka
  • Country: Sri Lanka
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAELG2MIKAF11ZRAMK3WZ586O9
  • Story Text: Sri Lanka's Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake appeared before a Parliamentary committee for a second time on Tuesday (December 4) to answer to impeachment charges as supporters and opponents took to the streets to defend and accuse the country's first female head of the supreme court.
    Police said around 600 lawyers, judges and civil society activists, including Buddhist and Christian priests gathered outside the supreme court building to rally support for Bandaranayake.

    "We have been convinced that this is a political victimisation because she has given a large number of judgments recently which the government didn't agree with," senior human rights lawyer J.C.Waliamuna said.
    Buddhist and Christian priests blessed the Chief Justice before she and her team of lawyers left for parliament for a second day to appear before a 11-member select committee, of which seven are from the ruling party, who are investigating the impeachment charges.
    The government and the supreme court have been on a collision course since the president's ruling party filed an impeachment motion against Bandaranayake, on November 6.

    "It has already developed into a conflict between the judiciary on one hand and Parliament and executive which is virtually one and the same body, on the other," Waliamuna added.
    But while Bandaranayake's supporters staged a rally to complain about political interference, thousands of her opponents took to the streets of Colombo calling for her resignation.
    The Chief Justice recently came under criticism from government supporters for ruling against a bid by the central government to take control of a 614.20 million U.S. dollar (80 billion rupees) development budget, saying it had to be approved by nine provincial councils.
    The ruling irked the government and its backers, some of whom accused the judiciary of overstepping its authority.
    The United States, the United Nations and the Commonwealth have raised concern over the impeachment move and have called on the government to ensure the independence of the judiciary.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register