Category: Legal

Jan 15, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa had sworn in Mohan Peiris, a former Attorney General as Chief Justice amid heavy security around the capital’s main courts complex.Dissenting lawyers have said they will petition court challenging the appointment of a new chief justice. The state information office said Peiris was sworn in […]

Jan 13, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s ‘Black Friday Impeachment’ of the chief justice will mark a new chapter in illiberal democracy where parliamentary majorities are abused to rob liberties of citizens, a legislator has warned. “The Black Friday impeachment is another shameful day in the history of our country,” opposition legislator Harsha de Silva […]

Jan 13, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake has not asked for time to remain till April 30 which will be followed by a voluntary retirement, her lawyers said.Referring to a media report on a Sinhalese language weekly that she had asked to remain till April 30 and retire voluntarily after that, […]

Jan 13, 2013 (LBO) – Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma has urged Sri Lanka’s ruling administration to “pause” a controversial impeachment of the Chief Justice saying the organization profoundly concerned.“The impeachment of a Chief Justice is a very serious matter.In this particular case, it has called into question aspects of the Constitution of Sri Lanka,” Commonwealth […]

Jan 13, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa had served a notice on Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranaike to quit her post Sunday, following the passage of an impeachment vote by parliament.The state information office said notice was served on the Chief Justice “informing her of the removal from the post.” The impeachment of […]

Jan 13, 2013 (AFP) – Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse on Sunday sacked the chief justice by ratifying a controversial parliamentary vote, defying international calls for restraint and plunging the country into a constitutional crisis. A spokesman for Bandaranayake confirmed that she received the letter sacking her on Sunday, but declined comment.No replacement has been […]

Jan 11, 2013 (LBO) – Britain, has condemned the beheading of a Sri Lankan maid who was sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia for the death of an infant in her care when she was still a minor. Sri Lanka’s foreign ministry said it “deplores” the beheading. Sri Lanka has also recalled the ambassador to […]

Jan 11, 2013 (LBO) – The United State embassy in Colombo said it was “deeply concerned” over the impeachment of Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake which was conducted defying a court order.Sri Lanka’s parliament in which the ruling coalition has a two thirds majority, voted 155 for and 49 against in a deeply partisan vote to […]

Jan 11, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s parliament has voted to oust chief justice Shirani Bandaranayake in on sharply partisan lines with courts and the opposition parties saying the impeachment process was illegal. Ruling party members however went ahead saying the court ruling amounted to a re-writing of the constitution and not just an interpretation […]

Jan 11, 2013 (LBO) – An illegal impeachment of Sri Lanka’s Chief Justice and the disregard for law by the ruling coalition will discourage investment, an opposition legislator has warned.“Without law how can investors come?” legislator Harsha de Silva from the main opposition United National Party, who is also an economist told reporters ahead of […]

Jan 11, 2013 (AFP) – Sri Lankan lawyers Friday urged judges to refuse to accept the appointment of a new chief justice ahead of a vote that is expected to see the incumbent impeached by lawmakers.The Lawyers’ Collective in letters to judges said a move by parliament to go ahead with a vote later Friday […]

Jan 10, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is to go ahead with the impeachment of chief justice Shirani Bandaranayake amid protests from lawyers as well as opposition parties after courts ruled that a parliamentary probe and its findings were illegal.The chief justice had petitioned court saying she was denied due process. Courts had also ruled […]