All Island Clergy Organisation tells CJ:

Step down until cleared

Should respect high office held:

Dharma Sri Abeyratne

The All Island Clergy Organisation yesterday requested Chief Justice Dr Shirani Bandaranayake, who is facing serious integrity charges before a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC), to refrain from performing her official duties until the completion of the probe into the charges leveled against her through an impeachment motion.

An impeachment motion containing 14 serious charges has been forwarded to Parliament and is being probed by the PSC.

The Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary should function in harmony without an unnecessary power struggle to create a law abiding society, Sabaragamuwa University Vice Chancellor and All Island Clergy Organisation chairman Professor Venerable Kumburugamuwa Vajira Thera said.

Ven Kumburugamuwa Vajira Thera addressing a media conference in Colombo yesterday said the Chief Justice has to act in a most responsible manner without tarnishing the highest office she holds in the country’s Supreme Court and to uphold the good image of the Judiciary.

The All Island Clergy Organisation requests the Chief Justice to avoid taking part in activities of the Judiciary until the completion of the PSC process since this represents the power of the people vested in them by the legislature, the thera said. All Island Clergy Organisation Secretary Ven Vatinapaha Somananda Thera and other members said the Chief Justice has to abide by democratic norms. The Daily News too wishes the great artiste good health and long life