[CJ Dr Shirani Bandaranayake arriving at the Supreme Court today]
Dr Shirani Bandaranayake resumed duties as the country’s Chief Justice today, following marching orders issued on Mohan Peiris by President Maithripala Sirisena.
Mohan Peiris was appointed as the country’s 44th Chief Justice after former President Mahinda Rajapakse impeached Bandaranayake and removed her from office.
In a letter sent to Peiris last evening, President Sirisena said Peiris would not continue to be recognized as the island’s Chief Justice as there had been flaws in Bandaranayake’s impeachment making it illegal to remove her from office, sources said.
Bandaranayake had also received a letter from President Sirisena referring to her improper removal from office by the former President and her recognition as the legal Chief Justice of the country.
Bandaranayake who received a grand welcome by lawyers upon her arrival at the Supreme Court complex is however expected to sit in as the Chief Justice only for a day, lawyers present at Colombo’s Supreme Court complex told reporters.
She is expected to hand over her resignation to President Sirisena tomorrow, paving way for a new Chief Justice to be appointed, lawyers added.
(Colombo Gazette)
images for The Sunday Times:
