GK depositors’ seek CJ’s removal

‘Remove Chief Justice Dr Shirani Bandaranayaka and ensure functionality of Court orders’ that had been previously issued by other Supreme Court Judges who heard our (Golden Key depositors’) trial, aggrieved Golden Key depositors, who are on a hunger strike opposite the official residence of Chief Justice Dr Bandaramayaka, demanded yesterday. The hunger strike of Golden Key victims entered the fourth day.

Golden Key depositors handed over a letter to President Mahinda Rajapaksa requesting him to take action to restore administration of justice to address their problem. G K depositors have called on the President to take into custody those directors of the Ceylinco Group, who were granted bail by the Chief Justice.

G K All Depositors' Association's Coordinator and former photo journalist Prasanna Hennayaka said, they submitted letters to the UN and British High Commission in Colombo explaining the how they after being victims of a Rs 26 billion fraud, suffered in the litigation process regards a fundamental rights case against Chairman Lalith Kothalawala and directors of the Ceylinco Group at the hands of the Chief Justice.

Hennanayaka said, " We gave our letters on Tuesday to the British High Commission and the UN , because some families of Ceylinco directors involved in Golden Key fraud are now living in foreign lands, And they are living luxurious lives in those countries spending hard earned money of the GK depositors".

"It came to light with the impeachment motion that she (CJ) had connections with these Ceylinco officials that played out money from GK depositors. She heard our case against these respondents while she had financial dealings with them, which is against all rules of natural justice," he said. Golden Key Depositors' Association president Dushanthi Hapugoda said their case was heard before former Chief Justice Sarath N Silva and Justice Shirani Thilakawardena. She abruptly took over the Golden Key fraud depositors' case to be heard under her upon a single petition filed by on depositor , who was an accomplice of Ceylinco Chairman Kothalawala.

"She pulled the case to the advantage of Ceylinco Directors. Stayed previously arranged repayment plans outlined by Justice Shjirani Thilakawardhena who heard the Golden Key case for a long time," she said. "Chief Justice Dr Shirani Bandaranayaka suspended enforcement of their judgments and orders from the time she took Golden Key case to be heard under her because of her financial connections with the respondents," she said. "We will continue this hunger strike until a government minister, such as Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa comes and give us some assurance that the government will not impede administration of justice against Golden Key depositors," she said. "A group of our depositors will go on a fast unto death if there is no such assurance," she said and added that they request the President to appoint a Monetary Board as a means to solve our problem."