Loss of prestige, confidence of Judiciary:

CJ responsible says Keheliya

Ishara Mudugamuwa

The present Chief Justice should be held responsible for the loss of prestige and confidence in the Judiciary, Cabinet spokesman and Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said.

Addressing the Cabinet press briefing yesterday, Minister Rambukwella said those who served the Judiciary for a long period, never did anything to tarnish the prestige and good name of the Judiciary. “When the impeachment motion was brought against Justice Neville Samarakoon, he resigned from his post preserving the prestige of the post he held and the judiciary. But Chief Justice Dr Shirani Bandaranayake is still holding on to the position,” the minister said.

He said at the beginning, the impeachment motion against the Chief Justice was seen as a problem of law and order. “Then it became a conflict between the Judiciary and the Legislature. It has now turned to be a totally political issue. As a citizen of this country, I respectfully request the Chief Justice not to allow any individual or group to interfere with the current issue with political motives, ” the minister said.