Fr. Sarath Iddamalgoda
I read in the media about CJ Mohan Pieris’s demand that if he were to resign he should be compensated with a post of a diplomat. Although I am a layman in the field of judicial matters, common sense makes me raise the question whether he has ever proved himself qualified to hold the post of a diplomat or for that matter even the post of Chief Justice.
Everyone knows that a judge is duty bound to uphold the independence and the integrity of the judiciary. Never should a judge allow himself to be influenced by his personal political preferences. A judicial officer is bound by the nature of his office to win the confidence of people.
In the case of Chief Justice Mr. Mohan Pieris, we are compelled to question whether he had met the above standards. The loss of confidence in him arose from his own inappropriate conduct as reported in the media.
The media exposed his participation in the new year celebration of the Rajapaksa family, his visit to the Vatican in the company of President Rajapaksa and his presence at the Temple trees in the early hours of the 9th of January when the results were being announced.
If Mr. Pieris has never denied any of these allegations, he should be interpreted to have admitted that he has contravened the code of conduct prescribed for a judicial officer.
Add to this the fact that he has now been questioned by the Police, a thing that has never happened in the history of Sri Lanka.
All this proves his close collaboration with the former President. Does the office of Chief Justice allow such familiarity with a politician? When one assumes the office of judge, one cannot allow oneself to be dictated by what one desires. One’s behaviour is restrained by the obligations of his office. The office of a judge demands impartiality because “not only must justice be done, it must also be seen to be done.”
In my view he seems to have failed on all these counts. The only alternative left for him is voluntary resignation. If for some reason he does not resign, the citizens of this country need to act. The foundation of democracy rests on the sovereignty of the people. As the famous adage goes, “There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.”
Shiro / January 27, 2015
This man does not deserve a diplomatic posting anywhere in the world, and is in no position to demand it.
It would be a shame if he represented this country. He has been in cohorts with the previous regime, and up to no good.
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Amarasiri / January 27, 2015
Fr. Sarath Iddamalgoda –
RE: The Chief Justice Mohan Pieris As A Diplomat
“In my view he seems to have failed on all these counts. The only alternative left for him is voluntary resignation”
If The Cheat Justice Mohan Pieris is Offered a Ph.D. from Sri Jayawardanapura University on Criminology, would it satisfy him? Namal Rajapaksa is trying to get one as well. They could be good roommates.
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/questions-to-usj-senate-on-namal-rajapaksas-dodgy-phd-attempt/
We need to keep the Cheat Justice in here locally, and let the secret be known only locally to the family. We don’t want to go through the exercise of recalling him, like 50 odd MaRa Shills and Whitewashers have been recalled from Foreign Land sand spill the beans globally.After all, despite MaRa and Vas activities, we need to preserve whatever goodwill is left for Sri Lanka.
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CiTizen / January 28, 2015
“In religion and politics people’s beliefs and convictions are in almost every case gotten at second-hand, and without examination, from authorities who have not themselves examined the questions at issue but have taken them at second-hand from other non-examiners, whose opinions about them were not worth a brass farthing. ” – Mark Twain
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Pinbath / January 27, 2015
Pinbath is at work!
First they create a totally unsubstantiated rumour about MP asking a diplomatic post.
Next they speculate about him as diplomat!
What sort of bullshit ate you spreading “father”?
500 hail Marys for this one.
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ForCryingOutLoud / January 28, 2015
A picture that hasn’t been identified as to venue or occasion is pasted up there…is it supposed to give credence to the dubious claims of the article?
Contrary to popular belief, Mohan Peiris is a highly accomplished legal giant perfectly suited to be a CJ and a gentleman to boot…! Sadly people are being dispossessed of their right to accurate information thanks to unprincipled ministers and associations crying wolf here, there and everywhere!
I would kindly request the author of this article to not obfuscate the truth by merely assuming what the intentions of the CJ were when he visited the President be it at the close of the election or when visiting His Holiness the Pope, etc.
– “Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won’t come in.” – quote
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maya / January 28, 2015
he should be in jail for treson.
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king rajasinghe / January 27, 2015
The ksndyan king Raj’s will wake up from grave if we give him a diplo must position
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Srimalie / January 28, 2015
Rajas.. You are dreaming.Were you sleeping. .Rajas woke up from the graves already and went down south, to follow the way of Dutu Gamunu. other wise they loose thier graves to tigers
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Govinda / January 27, 2015
The Chief Justice Mohan Pieris As A Diplomat
He is supposed to be sent to Brazil. Will he do the same mockery to the Brazilian Judicial System also. A disgrace to the judicial system of Sri Lanka. And its almost 3 weeks and he still sticking on to his seat. Throw him out please.
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dcn / January 27, 2015
Well said Rev, Father. The CJ is resign voluntarily and give some credibility to the position he holds. No other person who is holding such an important position in the country would have been holding for so long if he had some decency in himself and respect for the position. Further, he also pretends to be a a good Gid fearing catholic, does he realise he is cheating himself with God?
All legal process available in the law of the land must be exercised to remove him from the position of CJ at tge earliest and no way he can appointed to a Srilankan mission with the track record he possesses.
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Punitham / January 27, 2015
Diplomat? Fit only to be a mat for Rajapakses.
”CJ” needs rehabilitation to be an ordinary citizen in the first place.
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Nagananda / January 27, 2015
I think that it is very likely that Mr Mohan Peiris goes into the history as one and the only Chief Justice of Sri Lanka taken into crudity whilst in Office for a serious offence of Corruption under the Bribery Law, concerning misappropriation of over 600 million rupees of public funds by the Colombo Dockyard Co Ltd, a case that is reported to the Corruption Commission, seeking the Corruption Commission to impound his passport to prevent him from absconding.
As a lawyer I have reported him to the Bribery Commission with compelling evidence elicited from the Director General Customs about the abuse of the office of the Attorney General by Mr Mohan Peiris for an improper purpose of facilitating the Colombo Dockyard Ltd from any penal sanction being taken against it by the Customs.
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Navin / January 27, 2015
The Google search engine is the worst enemy of Mohan Pieris.
Whether he is employed as a Judge or Envoy or Administrator, persons who have to deal with him in connection with their business will check his credendials.
Before the Brazilians accept him, they will check with Dr Google and say : Thanks, but no thanks. When you have to deal with a Chairman of a Corporation whom Dr Google says is a thief, will you have any respect for him. His reputation is such that either he will not be hired, or he will fail in any position “handed” to him.
By best advice to Mr Pieris is retire and go home (if he escapes incarceration) without disgracing himself any more.
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Samuel Jayaweera / January 27, 2015
In the same manner, there is no wrong to appoint former Kelaniya Mervin the man who tied the innocient public servant to tree post – and made it as if the victimized just thought to have tied by his approval – as a diplomat.
So with all the charges still be clear only Mohan Peris was picked by the former Prez to replace Dr. SB. Today, the man smeared with all faekels seems to have gut to stay further. Whoelse has made that harm to srilanken Judiciary if not Mohan Peris ? Man is not worth even to appoint as a security man having revealed all these.
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whywhy / January 27, 2015
The presence of already controversial CJ at Temple trees
on the day of election result,as the president was losing
the battle,is clear evidence that this man was close to
the president.And that’s good enough for people not to
have any trust in his handling of cases.Any duty conscious
public servant,let alone this particular CJ,should stop
harassing the public immediately.This is harassment to the
public.Why meetings with the PM or other elected bodies?
A judge can not be controversial and that’s it!
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mike / January 27, 2015
A “diplomatic” posting at Welikade is in the offing for our unlawful Chief Justice, Moron Peiris !
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simon / January 27, 2015
Why not? He will make an excellent Diplo Mutt
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justice / January 27, 2015
Mohan Peris is the only supreme court judge who judged a man – a prisoner at Vavuniya Prison, who was beaten to death, as a “terrorist”,
on his own “personal knowledge” and thus denied the remedy requested by the prisoner’s family, after his death.
His ruling was a disgrace and insult, to the entire judicial system.
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Thondamannar / January 27, 2015
[Edited out] Iddamalgoda……. Can you kindly mind your business close to your Religion.
[Edited out]
Quote “he has ever proved himself qualified to hold the post of a diplomat or for that matter even the post of Chief Justice..Iddamal
In you opinion if CJ is not capable to hold the CJ post, WHY DON’T YOU PRAY TO YOUR MASTER AND PLEAD FOR HIS INTERSESSION TO MAKE HIM CAPABLE. Afterall CJ too is a Catholic. IT APPEARS YOU TOO BEHAVE LIKE A ROGUE PRIEST AND THERE TO MISLEAD THE FOLLOWERS TO PURSUE YOUR HIDDEN AGENDA.
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Kuhan / January 27, 2015
Mohan Peiris is a product of his time. The whole society in which he moved was a corrupt society from top to bottom.He occupied the gutter cleaning the shit that he consorted with, issuing certificates of moral rectitude. Today he is unable to distinguish right from wrong. He has no concept of dignity or dignified behaviour. He has no shame and no sense of embarrassment. When everyone around him is treating him as a leper, he has not got even the decency to to protect his person by removing himself from the public.
Even the much maligned Minister Mervyn de Silva was sensitive to the times and as a very intelligent man has walked into the sidelines, whereas this unwanted Chief Justice is still clinging on to Office and bringing the Office of Chief Justice to disrepute. Perhaps the government will to restore the dignity to the Office by removing him as soon as possible.
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maya / January 28, 2015
he should be in jail for treason.
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Leon / January 28, 2015
Mr Peris might demand and according to the media PM Wickremasinghe is prepared to send him as the ambassador to Brazil. Did the PM discuss this offer with the others in the coalition? If such an offer has been made, the JVP should pull out of the coalition.Will Brazil accept him as the Ambassador for Sri Lanka?.
He committed treason and the law should take its course and if he is found not guilty, then probably the offer could be made.
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KR / January 28, 2015
Simply don’t understand why the government is dilly-dallying on this. He should have been removed from his post several days ago.
He cannot represent Sri Lanka as a diplomat either. He lied to the UN about Prageeth Ekneligoda’s whereabouts, and when summmoned to the courts to testify on that matter, he said that what he told the UN had been heresay.
Not fit to be the Chief Justice, not fit to represent Sri Lanka. If the new government has any respect for itself, and for those who voted them in, they should remove him from his post.
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Jim softy / January 28, 2015
IF he steps down he will be vulnerable to arrest. He has fraud Charges from Golden Key – affair.
That is why he is asking a Diplomat position in order to escape it.
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aloalo / January 28, 2015
and he is the Cheif Justice of Sri Lanka (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Justice_of_Sri_Lanka)
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ramona therese fernando / January 28, 2015
Seems the guy was at temple trees on 9th because Rajapaksa was unsure about relinquishing his government for the remaining two years. This is quite legitimate, as there is no specified legality for relinquishing power if he had two more years to go, irrespective of election outcomes (the law and constitution not being able to be specific enough on this account – if it was, no president would ever want to hold an early election). CJ was there to give advice, of which he did, which was for Rajapaksa to relinquish power.
So therefore, Rajapaksa could have yet remained in power, very legitimately for the remaining two years, and abrogated the immediate take-over deal of the new GoSL. Therefore, the reinforcements of the private Avant Guard Security , if released, would have been a necessity to curb rioting of the opposite party and supporters, in case Rajapaksa decided to remain and complete the two terms. Legit. on all sides.
But the fact that nothing of adverse speculation happened, and Rajapaksa resigned very democratically and dignifiedly, shows that all accusations to the contrary is legally invalid.
That CJ went with Rajapaksa to the Vatican can only be seen in terms of religious protocol as CJ is Catholic and Rajapaksa in Buddhist. For a Buddhist to enter the hallowed shrines of the Vatican is needed a great amount of formality on the Catholic side – hence the CJ ‘s certifications in the 7-sacraments of the Catholic Church. Rajapaksa’s wife would not have had the qualification (being a Buddhist convert). A priest and bishop do not have the legal authority, and it would have been a breach of their religious conventions.
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Lanka Watch / January 28, 2015
Only an insane man would have asked for diplomatic position in exchange
to vacate the position of CJ. He has brought discredit to this great and independent institution and his case would have gone into history
books of other countries, already. Govt. should not hesitate to impeach
him, as there have enough proof and get him out of the way to appoint the next senior Judge. Govt.is paying too much of respect to this man
because of the unique position he is holding,which he does not deserve and does not reciprocate by vacating peacefully.
This man has some guts to ask for this position as if the diplomatic
service is there for harbouring criminals under diplomatic immunity
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moiez mohamed / January 28, 2015
Bullshit do not send or give CJ the diplomatic post to any country he has requested, and do not dance to his tune Mr.President they don’t deserve and he is not fit to do his own rule of law so why ur still keeping him send him to welikada jail as a commissioner post thats the post most suitable for him.
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Justice & Fairplay / January 28, 2015
I asking for a Diplomatic posting, this man is merely asking the President and the Prime Minister for a bribe to vacate.
Simply stated, this is what Mohan Pieris- and the previous administration and their cahoots – have reduced this country to. Anything was achievable then, through a bribe or political “usefulness”. Offenses which carried the death penalty for ‘normal’ citizens, would be ‘passports’ to parliament, if the offender was politically ‘useful’.
Such a terrible shame on this land!
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Renu / January 28, 2015
Most disgraceful person of peraphs of very low pedigree.He. Will disgrace the country more if he is made a diplomutt!!
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Colombo hot spot / January 28, 2015
If morons like Bandula Jayasekara and Lakshman Hulugalle throw in Yasara Abeynayake ex girlfriend Yoshitha Rajapaksha can be diplonuts with no qualification why shouldn’t Mohan Peries?
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Mallaiyuran / January 28, 2015
As long as SLFP or even UPFA is intact impeachment is not possible. Only possibility to remove him is white van action. But the new royals yet have not started that. Gotha, Mervin, Dhumintha… all the gang leaders are on the stray. Sorry! keep him for the time being.
Good Luck!
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renu / January 28, 2015
Is Ranil off his rocker to send him as a Diplomat?. If he does so he is guaranteed to lose his position as PM come General Elections
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Sri Lankan / January 28, 2015
Mohan Peris is a disgace to intelligence. A disgrace to the educated and education itself. If he has any semblance of self respect or dignity he would have resigned by now. Sounds like he is trying to make deals like some of the low life forms we have elected to parliament. It is amazing to what levels even educated people stoop down to. If I was him and believed I am innocent, I would step down immediately and make a strong statement defending my position. Then I would walk away into the sunset with my head held high. However it seems like Mohan has chosen to prostitute his self respect and dignity instead. I wonder how he even graduated. Might need a closer look.
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Real-Press / January 28, 2015
Hey Father- first of all as a priest you should be writing a better article than backbiting at modest people like CJ, secondly may I ask as to what’s wrong with the CJ being appointed as a diplomat when lots of wacky tots who haven’t even got their GCSEs are employed in consulate offices and moreover if Sajin Vas could run the whole foreign ministry (what qualifications did he have??). I’m positive the CJ make a decent diplomat. Hey come on Fr don’t be pessimistic!
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Real-Press / January 28, 2015
It’s one of the fundamental errors that politicians of SL compelling is that as soon as they come to power they remove all the educated personnel from their designated roles because they’re looking at him/her with nothing else except the colour of Blue or Green and which is very inconsequential and their impulsive unawareness action would only help themselves to keep and stay in the power and the people of SL are the unfortunate losers as they just happened to drop of another asset. Remember the assets are there to generate the revenues for the country and aren’t simply belonged to the polarised Blue or Green party people and in fact owned by the whole country. So why then these dogmatic politicians gratuitously writing off the values of these exclusive assets?? To my knowledge the SL is the only country that this method is being operated and that’s very depressed!!!
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