Parliamentary Council to meet today:

CJ APPOINTEE COMES UP FOR COUNCIL APPROVAL

Chaminda PERERA

BASL ON IMPEACHMENT AFTERMATH: NO PROTESTS

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka’s representatives yesterday told the President that the Association had not taken any decision to hold protest campaigns over the impeachment of Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake within the court precincts.

According to Presidential Spokesman Mohan Samaranayake, the BASL representatives at a meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaska at Temple Trees said that individual lawyers in their private capacities might have organized a campaign without their knowledge.

They insisted that their Association however, had not organized such protests.

The Parliamentary Council (set up under provisions of the 18th amendment to the constitution) is to meet today to appoint a nominee for the post of the Chief Justice -- which fell vacant with the removal of Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake following her impeachment.

The Council will recommend the nominee of President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the post of Chief Justice in terms of the 18th amendment to the constitution, UPFA National List MP and Parliamentary Council member A H M Azwer said.

Former Attorney General Mohan Peiris is the President’s nominee for Chief Justice, according to sources. However, the Daily News is unable to confirm this.

Azwer said the Council set up under the 18th amendment of the constitution comprises the Speaker, Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition and two representatives of the Prime Minister and the opposition leader, from different ethnic groups.

He said the President will send the name of a nominee for the post of the Chief Justice for the Council’s recommendation.

Azwer said the Council has met over 20 times for the appointments of members to various commissions including the Public Service Commission, Human Rights Commission and the National Police Commission although the Opposition leader had kept away. The Parliamentarian said the President refers nominees for independent commissions for the Council’s approval.

Azwer said on none of these occasions, had Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe participated in the council proceedings, which was a violation of the constitution.

He said the opposition leader violated the constitution in his failure to be present at the Parliamentary Council meetings, as required by the constitution.