Is the impeachment according to the constitution? Petitions requesting for an interpretation considered today.
Seven petitions that have been filed requesting for an
interpretation with regard to the impeachment procedure will be
considered before the Supreme Court today.
The Appeal Court had referred to the Supreme court the seven
petitions that had been earlier filed before the Appeal Court
challenging the impeachment procedure for obtaining an interpretation as
to whether the impeachment procedure was in accordance with the
constitution.
It is in accordance with this these seven petitions are scheduled to be taken up before the Supreme Court today.
While these petitions will be considered before a Supreme Court
three-member bench of judges, Justices Nimal Gamini Amaratunga, K.
Sripavan and Priyasaad Dep constitute the three-member bench of judges.
Meanwhile a Monk and four other persons have submitted five petitions
before the Supreme Court requesting that investigation of the said
seven petitions be refused.
The five petitions say that an interpretation is not required as the
PSC on impeachment has been appointed in accordance with the
constitution.
Similarly two petitions have been filed before the Supreme Court
saying that Justice Nimal Gamini Amaratunga who is a member of the
three-member bench which considers the relevant petition was not
suitable for serving on the bench.
The petition says that Justice Nimal Gamini Amaratunga constituting
the three-member bench is a member of the Judicial Services Commission.
The statement the President had recently made to the effect that
steps would be taken to have the impeachment report re-investigated by
an independent committee has by now become an important topic at
political platforms.
Participating at a media briefing held in Colombo yesterday UNP MP
Karu Jayasuriya too expressed his views with regard to the subject.
On this occasion the MP said that it would be important for the
people and the country if the President would reinvestigate it through
an independent committee.
President of the Bar Association, President's Council Wijedasa
Rajapaksa noted that the president's proposal had provided attorneys
with a new glimmer of hope.