By Colombo Telegraph –
External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris today morning called up the Colombo based diplomatic corps to brief them on the impeachment process against Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake.
Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris | Photo Ishara Kodikara
Colombo Telegraph learns that in a highly professorial briefing to the diplomats, Minister Peiris highlighted British and US case law, with regard to impeachment of judges and informed the embassy officials that Sri Lanka was following constitutional procedure to remove the Chief Justice.
A document on several US Supreme Court judgments was distributed to the diplomats, specifically referring to how the impeachment of judges in the US was undertaken by the legislature.
However several diplomatic sources told Colombo Telegraph that it was laughable that the Minister failed to highlight that in the same judgment the court noted that there were two constitutional safeguards in place in the legislative process to impeach a judge in the US – firstly that the impeachment resolution is moved in the lower house and trial and inquiry undertaken by the Senate and secondly that even in the senate, a judge must be found guilty by two thirds of a senate majority. One diplomat quipped that the last time a Supreme Court justice in the US had been impeached was in 1804 and even then, he was found not guilty by the senate and continued on the bench. Britain has never had to remove a judge of the English high court or the court of appeal, although the provisions exist.
The diplomats were also informed that there had been a clamour from the opposition regarding the scandal involving the Chief Justice’s husband, who was Chairman of a state bank that was engaged in a dubious share transaction. Proof of this ‘clamour’ was provided to the embassy officials with newspaper cuttings and Parliamentary Hansard extracts. Several opposition MPs including Dr. Harsha de Silva, Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Dayasiri Jayasekera have been highlighted as those agitating against the Chief Justice’s husband and casting doubt on Bandaranayake’s independence.
In the Rupavahini programme Wedikawa (Platform) Parliamentary Select Committee Member Rajitha Senaratne also highlighted these reports, including one article saying Not Only The Chairman Husband; Chief Justice Wife Must Also Resign!, written by Uvindu Kurukulasuriya. Senaratne said: “This is what my friend Uvindu Kurukulasuriya wrote earlier although he now writes against this.” This article was also highlighted in the Diplomatic briefing by Minister Peiris. Other press statements by opposition members were also highlighted by Minister Senaratne.
Defending the Parliamentary Select Committee process that recently found Bandaranayake guilty on three charges out of 14 in the impeachment motion filed against her, Minister Peiris told diplomats that the Chief Justice had surrendered all her legal rights to be heard when she walked out of the proceedings on December 6, 2012. The Minister also told the diplomatic corps that the PSC was not a place for evidence to be examined in cross examination since the only thing the committee had to ascertain was whether the evidence gathered was true or false, embassy sources told Colombo Telegraph.
Ironically, Minister Peiris was Chief Justice Bandaranayake’s teacher at the Law Faculty of the Colombo University when she was a student at the campus. The Minister identified her as one of the brightest in her batch and was reportedly instrumental in recommending her as a lecturer at the faculty once she graduated. Minister G.L. Peiris as Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs in the Chandrika Kumaratunga Government of 1994-2000, recommended Bandaranayake’s appointment to the Supreme Court bench.
Government sources believe that the Rajapaksa Administration blames Peiris for his role in elevating Bandaranayake to the position of Sri Lanka’s first female Chief Justice. Peiris is believed to have supervised the drafting of the impeachment motion against his former protégé and is now engaged in a massive effort to restore the legitimacy of the Government process undertaken to remove her from office.
Several attempts made to contact Minister Peiris with regard to this matter proved fruitless.
Wuliangguobinjiu / December 18, 2012
This man Peiris was a well-known Sinhala only chauvinist at campus and he is known to have crossed the papers of some of the brightest students. He is paying for it now and may he live longer and suffer. The Judicary has always been corrupt like the politicians, police.
What lanka needs is a revolution not piece meal impeachment of women.
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Bruno Umbato / December 18, 2012
I’m with you Wuli …
” The Judicary has always been corrupt like the politicians, police …”
When the judiciary is corrupt and showing off themelves as ‘angels’, the world starts to disintegrate under the weight of hypocrisy …
I hope supreme court judges Imam and Ekanayaka are not GL’s students … One already had is more than enough for his whole carrier in academia … Having three? Oh my god!
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James Bond / December 19, 2012
Impeach Mahinda Rajapakse, not the CJ!
Sri Lanka’s despot – Mahinda Rajapakse must be impeached along with his brothers for lies, corruption, and running a Kangaroo court bringing harm and disrepute to the sovereign people, the judiciary and legislature of Sri Lanka- in the form of the PSC that lacked natural justice and due process.
Time to hold the executive despot and his family of uneducated thieves and thugs and criminals accountable and them of their immunity and impunity of the regime.
Meanwhile the members of the Kangaroo Court should be sued by the CJ and forced to resign from the Diya-wenna Parliament
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Ben Hurling / December 19, 2012
I don’t know much about GL.
Agree with Wuliangguobinjiu. We need serious change in the country. Nothing short of a revolution will do.
Not only politicians, Judiciary and Police are corrupt to the core as well.
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AMT / December 21, 2012
There is no necessity for GLP to brief the Diplomats, because they know better than GLP
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Academic / December 18, 2012
G.L.Peiris is a disgrace and the intelligentsia accepted that long ago as he sacrificed self respect for a portfolio.He has jumped to all sides to pick up a portfolio.
His father Glannie and Uncle BP and most of all his grandfather Walter Salgado must be rolling in their graves. His in laws the Amarasuriya’s must be ashamed of this educated buffoon who has sold himself.
No one in the academic world recognises him as a man of worth today.
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Thoththa baba / December 19, 2012
Fully agree with you! I have seen him at many functions where people avoid him like the plague- Including his own classmates. Serves him right. Bloody disgrace to other academics too. Sadly this old dude must be the black sheep of that respectable family – born to ruin their reputation
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Jayantha / December 18, 2012
This is mere “Vandi Battaya” of Maharaja, selling his self respect, personality, integrity and moral values for mere two penny “santhosam” by his ‘condom theory’ boss.
I wonder why the Diplomatic Community didn’t Ask following questions from GLP.
1) How come a motion of impeachment brought to Speaker before a Committee go through all the charges with evidence,witnesses and back up documents and finally deciding if to impeach the CJ or not….
2)How come all these information were not available when CJ and her Lawyers asked for them during the Trial..
3)If the Motion was signed bliendly by the 117 on a blank paper…..what’s the reason for it.
4)Why President said “She is too big for her feet” to ex CJ Sarath N. Silva, and why he said it.
5)Why waited till Divi neguma bill was rejected by CJ to Impeach her…and not 6 months earlier….
6)PSC gave only One day to read 1000 odd pages and to produce answers on next day by CJ….
7) Interview 20 odd witnesses in 8 hours and producing a report in record breaking time….while telling CJ that there will be no Witnesses….
8) Humiliating CJ by uneducated and vulgar govt PSC morons….
I could write more ……..
IT IS A DISGRACE MR.G.L. PEIRIS TO BE A REPRESENTATIVE OF SRI LANKA AS EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTER….AND AS AN EX. LAW PROFESSOR ( a honest profession) …..AND ALSO TO THE WESTERN DRESS YOU WEAR.
PLEASE DON’T SELL YOUR REPUTATION FOR AN UNEDUCATED, UNCULTURED AND UNCIVILISED THUG….
THANK YOU.
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Anuradha Peiris / December 18, 2012
G L Peiris no different from Wimal Weerawansa, Rajitha Senarathne, Jonston etc. All crossed parties and came to alliance with MR for personal benefits. All can do any dirty thing for that, no ethics, no integrity, no conscience, no moral values, just the greed for money and power. Can we expect any good from them?
Rajitha – originally a member of Sri Lanka Mahajana Party then crossed to UNP for benefits. Sentenced by the courts against supplying rotten goods to the military and lost his parliament seat in UNP. RW reappointed him from the UNP national list. Now down right anti Ranil.
GL – Chandrika brought to politics just like Kadir to introduce quality to the corrupt politics. Crossed to UNP for personal gain against Chandrika in the RW govt. Once RW lost again crossed over to MR govt.
No need to talk about WW.
Just compare GL with Kadir in terms of ethics, integrity, moral values, conscience, etc. Would he favouravly compare with Kadir or WW, Rajitha, Jonston?
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Jamal / December 19, 2012
Anuradha you missed out Dr. Mervin in your list of comparable idiots. Both have a common link in prostitution. One trades the human kind the other his intellect or whatever that remains of it.
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Mihlar / December 19, 2012
The comparative writing of Anuradhapura is just superb…
GLP certainly doesn’t fall in to the category of Kadir,
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Vishvamithra / December 18, 2012
GLP is probably the best living example for the saying that knowledge itself does not make a man worthy without wisdom. Surely his appalling conduct after enter into politics endorse the fact that he is man with no integrity whatsoever. Through out his political career he has demonstrated that he is a shameless man who would lick the boot of any unworthy as long as his private interests are well looked after.
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Citizen / December 19, 2012
This Peiris is a great opportunist. First he joined the UNP. Later joined Chandrika’s regime and presented the Draft Constitution. Thereafter (after the Dr.Neelan’s assassination) no word about. Now he has stuck on to MR and doing all the dirty tricks without shame. When the CJ’s lawyers insisted that the principles of Natural Justice be observed, why can’t G.L.Peiris give a proper answer. Why can’t G.L.Peiris insist for a powerful Upper House on the American model to try the impeachment of the CJ. How is G.L.Peiris going to account for the behaviour of Wimal Weerawansa and Dillon Perera. G.L.Peiris is a shame to Sri Lanka.
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Safa / December 19, 2012
Minister Peiris told diplomats that the Chief Justice had surrendered all her legal rights to be heard when she walked out of the proceedings on December 6, 2012. The Minister also told the diplomatic corps that the PSC was not a place for evidence to be examined in cross examination since the only thing the committee had to ascertain was whether the evidence gathered was true or false
The law according to Jim Papa. This man is now senile and suffering from delusional disorder. Does anyone surrender their legal rights? By what law Mr Peera? You have surrendered your academic qulaifications making such stupid statements. You qualify to be the appu of your boss MahaRaja. You are good at cooking the law books.
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Jagatj Jayaweera / December 19, 2012
Shock! Horror!
I can only ask some questions.
If the US and Britain have not impeached a CJ ever, how can we, the colonials dare attempt to do this?
Don’t Rajapaksas know who their masters are?
Why are the Sri Lankan people happily allowing the government to do these things? Why are people like J.C. Weliamuna, Jehan Perera and P. Saravanamuttu taking to the streets?
Can’t WE learn that in a democracy, the majority wish prevails?
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Joanna Gray / December 19, 2012
Not sure I understand the point you are trying to make. Didn’t think the Rajapakses had any master other than the devil himself. This is judging from the diabolical nature of their actions. Like many other Sri Lankans I have great respect for JC Weliamuna, Jehan Perera and Pakiasothy Saravanamuttu.
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P A Samaraweera / December 19, 2012
Jagath, the majority wishes that you be sodomized. Let the majority wish prevail then.
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Saro / December 19, 2012
What makes this man unique though there is no shortage of other unprincipled politicians he will defend any action of any government to hold on to his ministerial portfolios. He defends federalism and unitary government, Sinhala Only and trilingualism, equality of ethnic communities and mono-ethnic government and armed forces and the list is much longer.
He has been a minister under the presidents CBK, MR and PM Ranil. How does he manage to be in power irrespective of the colour of the party in power, he sells what he learnt for money and perks. He is clever enough to omit facts and figures and carefully massage what he says thinking he has fooled the audience without realising that only person fooled is he himself.
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Dushy Ranetunge / December 19, 2012
Who is this bugger Uvindu Kurukulasuriya. One moment he wants the CJ impeached and the next he opposes it. Looks like he has got his knickers in a twist.
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Lakshan / December 19, 2012
Mr Dushy Ranetunge, I was also thinking the same way, But couldn’t find a single article Mr Uvindu wrote supporting CJ. So I think you, GLP And Rajitha S are wrong! :(
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G. Pandith / December 19, 2012
What if Kadir is still alive and is the present Minister of External Affairs? What if MR asked him to brief the diplomatic community on the government’s position on the Impeachment motion? Would he have said something different? Would he have said that it was all a mistake? He too would have to take the stand that MR has dictated. I don’t hold a brief for GL but the reality is that all Ministers are Puppets. If Kadir was alive and he was a Minister he too would have turned a Puppet. That’s the reality.
Now we understand how Chandraprema suddenly became a research scholar to write the article “The President’s Step Backwards” What has happened is that the material distributed on U.S. Impeachment processes may have been collected and put together to look like a highly research article. I as wondering how he could write such an article.
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Jayantha / December 20, 2012
G.Pandith,
I think your interpretation of Kadirgamar is wrong on many issues.
1) Kadir vehemently opposed and branded V.Prabhakaren as a terrorist….who not only killed Govt. soldiers, but also his own political opponants…making him the total saviour of Tamil people.
2)Kadir was against VP who never agreed other than a total seperate EELAM state in North and East.
3)Kadir and the Tamil community openly opposed for VP’s assasination of Rajiv. Gandi which he opened his own waterloo.
4)Kadir,GOSL,India and the International community….all agreed for a federal state in NE on power sharing basis giving more powers to the inhabitants of those areas which GOSL agreed then.
So Kadirgamar was fighting for a just and righteous cause……and he is correct…and you should agree for it.
Kadir was never in duplicity…..In fact only VP was against him and all the other tamil parties agreed what he stood for.
But unfortunately after the war ended, it was the MR along with GL and other External Affairs Ministry personnel, who not only duped and went against their promises to dead Kadir,SL tamil people, Tamil opposition parties, India and the world community, but as a result MR misled his own country and the people with never ending solution in sight, and now it has grown again into a dangerous level making way for another EELAM war, and I am sure this time it is a cornered MR against ….all of them.
So never compare Kadir to GL….as both of them are two seperate breed.
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peter / December 19, 2012
when Sunny Abacha in nigeria framed a coup against his chief of staff OLADIPO DIYA and senteced to death by firing squad. The day he was to be shot dead ABACHA DIED and the soldiers didn’t kill him. That is the nature.
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Kautilya / December 19, 2012
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Citizen / December 19, 2012
G.L.Peiris should understand the meaning of surrender. When the CJ was prepared to face all allegations before the PSC, it is the Government members of the PSC who were unable to answer any one issue put forward by CJ’s Counsel, and they (Wimal Weerawansa & Dillon Perera) surrendered by using filth languages and disgracing the PSC. They also the face of the Parliament by their undesirable behaviour and G.L.Peiris was aware of it. One ponders whether G.L.Peiris is eyeing for the post of PM by defending the PSC.
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Oh Danny boy / December 19, 2012
I WAS TOLD BY ONE OF GL’S CLASS MATES AT ST. THOMAS, THAT HE WAS ETERNALLY BULLIED FOR HIDING AND CONSUMING SALGADO BAKERY FOOD IN HIS FATHER’S POSH CAR, WITH THE DRIVER AND HIS NANNY KEEPING WATCH.
NO WONDER HE STILL NEEDS SOMEONE TO KEEP WATCH OVER HIM, WHEN THE MEMBERS OF THE SO CALLED PARLIAMENT KEEP BULLYING HIM. WHAT A DOG’S LIFE THIS GUY IS LEADING?.
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Sonlight / December 19, 2012
GL a Chuck GOLAYA of MARAJATHUMA
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Saman Wijesiri / December 19, 2012
The BASL, the joint opposition and civil society leaders too should give the diplomatic community based in Colombo chapter and verse of the impeachment saga at a joint briefing or at separate briefings. Anyway I don’t think that the professor can take the diplomats for a ride!
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S k. weerasena / December 19, 2012
G.L cannot escape from his chilhood psycology He was a timid gyu in his childhood. He did not have any association with common people. he has no backborn to resist any wrong doi ng. Even he will kill any person person if presodent drect him to do so. He is timid and will carry out any thing even a peon or a servant under president order him to do.
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Mahanama / December 19, 2012
GL has got his wires crossed again as he is wont to do being a sycophant of the master and cunning careerist at his favorite game of opportunism .One is aghast at the thought of having a law professor doing the bidding of injustice for his political survival.
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Lanka Muslim, UK / December 19, 2012
One of my teachers at College, who just retired as a Teacher, came to my office by accident where I was in a good position, embraced me and appreciated me for achieving something more than he did. Do we see such quality now.
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rasavath / December 19, 2012
Sri Lanka we are slipping into a hole, of lies, corruption a cess pit, and now we are destroying the physical beauty as well. Politicians are raping the natural resources, building hotels and roads without a plan. The armed forces are conducting business, they have the best location having sat on crown lands….. taken them over the best beach heads, mountains safari lodges etc all taken over. Welcome to the military state of Mihinlanka if you think otherwise you are fooling just yourself. As for GL he is a sad example and a disgrace to his alma mater. He never got about sat in his car during interval, a mamas boy.
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Ronny / December 19, 2012
Oh, GL’s mouth is like when it is purging from the other side!
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Park / December 19, 2012
GLP is the definition of an Educated Fool. Hulang Gana Paththata Hoiya!
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Wuliangguobinjiu / December 20, 2012
The very Sinhalese who assisted Rajapakses to kill our beloved Eelam leader Pirabaharan are today fighting each other. And, that’s only the start. Very soon our boys that lurk in the shades of Jaffna University as students will take to streets. And our revolutionary JVP brothers will take to streets in the south. Thereafter, our valiant LTTE cadres who Sinhalese think as being rehabilitated will dig out all the arms that our thalaivar hid ten feet below ground to join the said University students to reach our Eelam and send Rajapakses to hell. Tata Sinhalese.
Sweet dreams to our Eelam brothers till then.
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shankar / December 23, 2012
I can see that the real Wulian has got a different logo in the first comment.Looks like you are a Rajapakshe plant who is trying the usual scare tactics to make the people rally around the Rajapakshes.Do you think the sinhalese are stupid.See what happened to prabha who thought like that.If you continue to plunder the country the sinhalese will kick you out,though you might go hoarse trying to revive the LTTE threat.
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Aney / December 21, 2012
GL the Eunuch .
When this dunk- head was VC a MBA student (an international consultant today) supported with evidence that his assignment marks were missing . They could not at least find the submissions which was handed over under Acknowledgment . The eunuch VC accpeted that the marks were missing and advised the student to do the exam for all papers as a refered candidate . The culrpits who were known as the Jayaratne gang were sent off scot free. That is Peris. Who is a fraud calling himslef a Professor after he has left the University and is not an emeritus professor.
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shankar / December 23, 2012
GL also has joined the bandwagon of clowns.At least the earlier ones could get it up,now the limp ones are also joining.Didn’t he here the president calling his own ministers jokers.So while these jokers go on insulting the CJ in the foulest terms,GL thinks she should just wait there and listen.Probably judging others by his servile standards.
For him to say that by walking out she has lost her rights to be heard is the joke of the year.First consider the whole impeachment process so far as null and void because of two jokers being on the committee.The President himself has called them jokers and how can jokers be judging a chief justice.The whole country has become a joke.
The impeachment process has to be started all over again,this time properly under the international supervision because the local process became a joke due to jokers in the cabinet.If this is not done and the CJ is impeached then all lawyers and judges should go on strike indefinitely for the sake of the country and the commonwealth should pay for their lost income with a hat collection and also cancel the holding of the commonwealth summit in Hambantota and kick srilanka out of the commonwealth altogether.
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