Golden Key Depositors Association alleges:

Cj took over GK case on single affidavit

* ‘Tried to block individual submissions’

* ‘Affidavit which did not list the relief prayed accepted in spite of it’

Jeevani Pathirana

When Justice Shirani Thilakawardena was hearing the Golden Key Financial Fraud Case successfully, Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake personally took the case under her wing on the basis of an incomplete affidavit submitted by a single person, alleged members of the affected Golden Key Depositors Association at a press conference recently. They said usually a person submitting an affidavit should finally mention the relief prayed by him or her in it, but in this case, an affidavit which did not list the relief prayed had been accepted by the Chief Justice.

The depositors who attended a recent media event in Colombo alleged that the Chief Justice in writing granted permission for them to make individual submissions in the case when they sought such relief through a petition, an affidavit and motion, but most surprisingly, she later refused such permission as the case proceeded.

They said at that stage, the Chief Justice told them that the order in the case would apply equally to all and tried to block individual submissions ignoring the written permission granted by her earlier. Further explaining this matter, a member of the Golden Key Depositors Association said “various parties are misleading the public about this case by issuing various statements.

Aren’t Attorney’s Wijayadasa Rajapaksa, Srinath Perera and Anil Perera who are appearing on behalf of the Golden Key Company the very same persons conducting protest campaigns against the Impeachment Motion facing the Chief Justice.

“If there is no proper administration of Justice forthcoming from the Judiciary we have to seek help from the supreme legislature as a final resort. Therefore I propose that the government should intervene and do justice to the affected depositors of the failed Golden Key Finance Company.”

“If Lalith Kotelawala can pay millions of rupees to retain lawyers why can’t he instead use that money to repay us depositors our dues. But instead he is living in luxury today be breaching all his bail conditions. Granting a long term visa for Cecile Kotelawala to live in England inspite of an open warrant for her arrest is another puzzle.

“I firmly believe that the Government will pay attention to our grievances and do some justice to us.”

“Although we come from distant remote areas we attend each and every hearing in this case. Already nearly 20 of our members are dead and another 110 are in a critical health condition. This is a very sorry plight.”

“Therefore, I humbly request the President to intervene in this matter and do justice to us,” he said.