By Dharisha Bastians –
The dubious procedure adopted to impeach the country’s Chief Justice may cost Sri Lanka its membership in the Commonwealth of Nations, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe warned yesterday. The Opposition Leader was speaking at a seminar entitled ‘The People’s Sovereignty and Human Rights’ organised by the Platform for Freedom, a coalition of civil society organisations, to mark the 64th International Human Rights Day on 10 December.
Ranil
Wickremesinghe said that at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2003, the Latimer House Principles were adopted in collaboration with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the Commonwealth Lawyers Association and the Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association.
“These principles clearly stipulate that judges in Commonwealth nations must be removed in a process that is independent and impartial. As a Commonwealth member state we are bound by these collective commitments,” he explained.
The UNP Leader said that before the Parliament debates the motion of impeachment in early 2013, the Speaker must declare whether the impeachment process of Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake has been conducted in adherence to the Latimer House Guidelines for the removal of a judge.
He said that Government members of the PSC had treated the Chief Justice very poorly during the proceedings. “Their treatment was not in keeping with the dignity due to her office,” the UNP Leader added.
“In the end, not only will the Chief Justice get impeached, Sri Lanka will lose her place in the Commonwealth,” Wickremesinghe charged. “We became members of the Commonwealth before we even joined the UN. Now we’re in trouble at the UN. Are we trying to create problems for ourselves in the Commonwealth as well?” he said.
Referring to the private member’s bill introduced by UNP MP and Bar Association President, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, which sets out a procedure for removing judges, by an independent tribunal of three judges from Commonwealth countries, Wickremesinghe said the only way to remedy the situation was to endorse it as an urgent bill.
“The Opposition will endorse and pass the bill without debate. Then the process can be conducted fairly. That is the only way out of this mess,” he said.
Wickremesinghe went on to say that the Government members on the Parliamentary Select Committee had hurriedly called over 30 witnesses late at night, after the Opposition members on the Committee quit in protest at the unfairness of the proceedings.
“This report should enter the Guinness Book of Records for the fastest select committee report ever presented before a parliament,” he quipped.
Courtesy Daily FT
mahamud abdulkarim / December 11, 2012
The only true statement left at present who has the experience and the knowledge to take Sri Lanka to prosperity again. Ranil, your day will come very soon, just hang in there!
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gamini / December 11, 2012
Today MR stands indicted before the masses of his guilt for trying to take revenge on the CJ for not co-operating with the Rajapaksa Fiat, although a couple of days ago he was boasting that he never resorts to revenge. RW has virtually check mated MR and as he promised it is a matter of time before MR is ousted. The usual Ranil bashers unable to understand Ranil’s manoeuvrings, are still blaming him, for their ignorance in not understanding the ground situation. What a pathetic set of Morons?
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P.B / December 11, 2012
This man is a disgrace , he and his gang of opportunists in the so called opposition have not said a word against any ,wrong doing in the country. They eat like pigs out of our money they are parasites that live on us . This is the first time he. Has even , tried to crack a dry joke about it. Tell us some thing we did not know fool. Oh my God! Wickramasinghe you are a genius! How did you figure this out that ,we will be kicked out of the commonwealth.
What a pitiful response to the, people who feed him. Our country is literarly burning and where has the opposition been? We can do this with out you and your gang of , self serving ,selfish self absorbed, self centered megalomaniacal dictators. You will never get our vote again . The UNP is dead. There are enough educated ,people in this country. We do not need you or the UNP. You can all rot in hell.
Not even 500 people came to the Lipton circle. That is because it is too little too late.
If people who ask for our vote, would keep silent , when , the government ‘s foolish minister increases electricity bills by 50-60% if this parasite and his cohotes fail to understand that, some of us would basically be paralised, if when the Golden Key happened , and 9000 people were affected, some destitute enough to commit suicide, knowing the government was protecting these, Kotalawelas, Pereras, Karunanayakes and the lot, what did this man and his gang do? Did they even join a protest? Have they spoken a word? NO
When two University students died what did you do?
The list is endless. So what do you do. Other than travel the world with your cuties, and live a good life keeping your mouth shut, what do you do?
What exactly is this mans job description? Keep his mout shut, not make waves and get more and more perks?
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Kiribanda / December 11, 2012
May be in an enviroment almost everyone in the parliament and ruling coalition are behaving as the street mongers of the pettah – or sometimes as never seen in the previous cabinets, so I am not surprised to see that people of your ilk keep accusing RW of everything.
He is not the magician to bring wonders to the nation.
Leaving aside all difference, if anyone is honest to ownself – would feel, that RW is civilized, cultured, respectful, people loving personality. These features youwould harldly find in MR.
As commented earlier, he is not serious with JUSTICE. He just enjoys his terms of office – preaching palatable further and further but doing the opposite as shown on the picture of yesterday ´s Island news paper.
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Kiri amma / December 11, 2012
If he was civilized and cultured he would not In a dictatorial manner, want to be the leader of the opposition after losing 23 elections. If he wants to be in that position , he will have to talk on, behalf of the people of this country, very decently, if you must, if, any injustice is happening.
The leader of the opposition is not a decoration. it has a certain responsibility. If he or you ,do not understand this then give that position to some one who can do that job.
This man even silences the others ,who go as our representatives to parliament. And these fellows follow his instructions instead of doing their job. If they get thrown out of the party(. This is a dead party) then may be they can form a new party with the CHIEF JUSTICE!!!
There is nothing decent , cultured or civilized in insisting on staying where you are ,clearly not wanted
And enjoying the perks of the job with out performing ones duties . Bando there is nothing civilized about that that Clearly is a an absolutely thick skinned CRASS, UNCIVILIZED, and nasty to say the least
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srilal / December 11, 2012
those who still believe Australia is really concerned of deteriorating Human right situation in sri lanka , please read the following article .
http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/national/carr-to-visit-sri-lanka-this-week/story-e6frfku9-1226534602808
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dicky Bird / December 11, 2012
Is Ranil sending out a signal to Commonwealth ??????
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justice / December 11, 2012
Ranil endorsed the stand taken by Anura B long ago that parliament is “supreme”.But the speaker already had that view and appointed the PSC. What is Ranil now saying? Is he saying that parliament has blundered?
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K.A Sumanasekera / December 12, 2012
Ranil’s forte is making pleas to Foreigners.
First asking Economic sanctions from the West soon after the demise of the LTTE. Ranil is now pleading with the CHOGM to ditch our homeland.
These tactics are having a great impact among his fans, going by the postings here.Would that help him to win the Presidency?
With a six year caveat on the Opposition Leaders seat.he may perhaps have a hidden agenda.
Dr JJ ,a senior ally of Ranil made a plea from his sick bed to the President to make health insurance available to all inhabitants.
And that is a brilliant plea and a surefire vote winner although this same JJ not long ago helped our London based expats stopping the President addressing the Oxford students.
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watcher / December 12, 2012
Joker is talking rubbish again… He need to get a real job since coming out of the law school he never practice or had a real job?
Then wife ran away since he likes boys.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / December 12, 2012
Will the UNP and RW respond to the MR and government allegation that the CJ be impeached and the complaint to the Bribery commission?
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
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Arun Wimalaratna / December 12, 2012
What is the Commonwealth? Whay is it so important? Because it is the same group of countries whose blood was sucked out by Britain for centuries? So we must bend over to them still?
We know Ranil has no support within his own party or in the country. So he keeps running to foreigners to get support.
Fiji has lived nicely for many years after the Commonwealth ‘punished’the only non-racilly based change of govt took place in that country. Now they are crawling to get Fiji back.
Ranil, please. Commonwealth is not relevant to us and we dont care.
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gamini / December 13, 2012
Arun your type never understand. ‘We know Ranil has no support within his own party or in the country. So he keeps running to foreigners to get support’. Where were you when the other day the UNP Balamandalayas across the country at grass root level gave RW a mandate over 94% to remain as the Leader for six years?
If the Commonwealth is not relevant, then why did this Moron MR assure another Inquiry? He could have proceeded on your advise?
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Jayagath Perera / December 12, 2012
Mr. Wickramasinghe may not be aware that many Northerners in this country admired him at the beginning of his term as Prime Minister and called him as “Wickramasingham”.
At the start you allege corruption on the part of the top officials. Then you say that Parliament is supreme and encourage an impeachment process. Thereafter you dump the process by dragging a Commonwealth.
It reminds me of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
My dear sir, the need of the hour is for clean men and women to man positions of honor.
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gamini / December 13, 2012
Jayagath, that is what you call strategy, what RW has done. If your desire is to have Honest Clean people to run this country, who else can you wish for other than RW who is Honest and Sincere to cleanse the system of governance?
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Aloy Perera, Toronto, Canada / December 13, 2012
With Ranil W., it may be said that he’s learned, knows everything about the Rule of Law and Parliamentary procedures. However, his greatest weakness is that he does not know how to say what he must say, when to say it and what it means to articulate what you know in a language that ordinary people can understand. His Sinhalese is hopeless; idioms he uses are strange to the average Sinhala citizen… In English, I guess it was his mother tongue, it’s no different… he simply cannot say what he means to say.. Worst of all, all the noise he’s now making is usless.. It’s too late! Ranil chose to let the stupid majority to have its way… when his voice and ‘spine’ were most needed… for the country…
Once again, He has shown beyond a shadow of a doubt that he’s not fit to rule our Nation… As some say, Ranil W. is the greatest Opposition Leader and the greatest asset Prez Mahinda Rajapakse can wish for..!
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gamini / December 13, 2012
Aloy you are making your assumptions from tens of thousands of miles away. The Bala Mandalayas of the UNP at grass root level across the country spoke otherwise, where a 94%, 4978 voted in favour of RW for a further six years while only 328 differed. RW is not there to dance according to your fancy, but on ground reality in the country. Though we may all have the common interest now to chase this FRAUD MR out a.s.p., it has to be done in a democratic manner, where the need has to be felt for the majority, which is still not reached that proportions. Hence the delay. So have patience and save your pronouncements.
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dicky Bird / December 13, 2012
2013 will be Marvellous.
Country who has lost C’wealth Membership hosts the C’wealth coference in 2013.
The Queeen will thank & live happily thereafter.
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Oh Danny boy / December 13, 2012
IT IS A DISGRACE FOR THE TRUE ROYALIST TO HAVE HIM AS A PAST PUPIL. HE SHOULD HAVE LISTENED TO THE MOTTO OF ROYAL COLLEGE, ” DISCE’ AUT DISCEDE’ (STUDY OR GET OUT) AND LEFT GRACEFULLY, WITHOUT BRINGING DISREPUTE TO ALL PAST PUPIL. “SCHOOL WHERE OUR FATHERS LEARNT THE WAY BEFORE US”. OH GOD HELP US.
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commando 695 / December 17, 2012
Oh Danny boy –
Ranil is clinging on to the Thomian motto Esto Perpetua – BE THOU FOR EVER !!
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Ummu Hana / December 18, 2012
Its better at least now RW is splitting some words. However how can we assume that RW propose members from UNP to PCS without knowing the motives? Is RW and UNP were not aware of the whole game plan of the impeachment process which is a daylight secret to every citizen of this country as well as international community? Or isn’t it RW and UNP wanted to fail Judiciary and eventually to fail MR & Co that will left the sub-contracting of government institutions to UNP?
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Ummu Hana / December 18, 2012
Its better at least now RW is splitting some words. However how can we assume that RW propose members from UNP to PSC without knowing the motives? Is RW and UNP were not aware of the whole game plan of the impeachment process which is a daylight secret to every citizen of this country as well as international community? Or isn’t it RW and UNP wanted to fail Judiciary and eventually to fail MR & Co that will left the sub-contracting of government institutions to UNP?
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Natalina / April 7, 2013
I identified what I was seeking for.
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