Like King Kekille’s times – Sobitha thera
FILE PHOTO
Venerable Maduluwave Sobitha Thera, referring to the impeachment motion against the Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, yesterday said that its was like the times of ‘King Kekille’.
“The complainants are among the persons who are sitting in judgement. Nowhere in the world have complainants functioned as judges,” he said, adding that the impeachment motion against the Chief Justice was an interference with the independence of the judiciary and should be called off even at that late stage.
A large crowd had gathered along the pavements of the ‘Hulftsdorp Hill’, in support of the government’s move to impeach the Chief Justice.
A billboard, near the roundabout, read ‘the people denounce a judiciary that seeks to divide the country’. People along the streets carried posters reading: ‘Shame Madam Excellency, Trillium Guilty’. Other posters said ‘We need an independent judiciary’.
The gathering remained there till afternoon. Police officers in their numbers had gathered to ensure there were no traffic jams.
The protesters were mostly common people from far and near. When asked what their motive was they said that they supported the government’s move to safeguard and uphold the independence of the judiciary and rid it of corrupt elements.
Most of the posters stressed that the people elected MPs and hence Parliament was Supreme and had the right to rule. The judiciary was not appointed by the people, they argued. They were there to put into action the laws approved by Parliament, which was elected by the people, the protesters claimed.
Meanwhile, religious dignitaries of various faiths too had arrived at the premises of the new Courts complex yesterday to speak on the rights of the people to have an independent judiciary.
Several Buddhist priests had gathered to perform ‘Sathyakriya’.
Following Sobitha Thera’s speech, Reverend Father Sarath Iddamalgoda, of the Catholic Church, said that he spoke for the people who had the right to have an independent judiciary. He said he was not there to promote the interests of any person or persons. Pastors of other Christian denominations, too expressed similar views.
Meanwhile, lawyers and judicial officers from outstations had gathered to see the Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake leave for Parliament to attend the Parliamentary Select Committee proceedings, scheduled for yesterday.
Courtesy: The Island
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I cannot understand how the judiciary become “dependent” when corruption charges were investigated against a judge by the highest institution in a country. What if the corruption charges are proved? Would then the judiciary be not independent anymore? Or should we allow corrupt behavior (if any) to continue because we need to protect that so called “independence” of judiciary?
How come so many people including Maduluwawe sobitha, do not see that the PSC comprises of opposition parliamentarians as well, protecting the fairness of the PSC. What is wrong with these guys?
A decision by consensus of the entire membership of the PSC is not mandatory. A decision by majority from within the PSC is acceptable.
There are 7 blue members and 4 (spineless) opposition members. The blue party has not given authority to the 7 members for a conscience vote on this matter.
Well, what can you expect? We can only expect a decision that’s already been made and documented from the origins of this motion.
Of the 4 opposition members, one is a notorius turncoat who has the propensity to vote “yes” if he can get a deal out of it with the blues. The octegenarion does not belong to the parliament. His thought process, which has been conditioned over the 30 year war, is as good as rubbish. The red brother is enjoying his last tenure as an MP. The reds will be wiped out completely at the next hustings. What can you expect from this mob? Opposition? They were compared to “elephant dung” recently. Well, that’s what they are.
“There are 7 blue members and 4 (spineless) opposition members. The blue party has not given authority to the 7 members for a conscience vote on this matter.”
Where else in the world including Britain, a parliamentary committee is made of majority of the opposition members? The committee reflects the proportion of seats or the power they have in the parliament. If this is in the constitution, why the Sri lankan judiciary is barking now?
Indra,
The conclusions of the PSC are a foregone conclusion. We all know what it is going to be. To demonstrate impartiality, the ruling party should give its members in the PSC a coscience vote. If so, the 7 members can use their peanut brains to correctly discern fact from fiction in the evidence presented and provide the masses with a rational decision.
Chumpa,
“The conclusions of the PSC are a foregone conclusion” – How do you know? I do not know and waiting to see the responsonse and explanations given by CJ to the committee.Your comments sounds very much like the comments made my foreign NGOs and LTTE supporters to the report of the final days of the LTTE war, before the report is out.
According to your own comments, I think there is no point in allowing the members in the PSC a conscience vote, because of their peanut brains, they will still make the wrong judgement.
I think the best thing to do is for the CJ to go to the parliament and put her side and give explanations and to make sure public has the access to the unaltered complete version. When people see the presentation by both sides, at least at the next election voters will do the right thing if the PCS do the gross injustice to the CJ.