5th Column
Doing justice to a Chief Justice
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My dear Shirani,
I thought of writing to you this week to wish you well as you begin your retirement after all the drama of the last two years. I hope you are happy with what happened in the past few days — unlike some others who are also beginning their retirement in distant Medamulana!
Last week’s events were not unexpected because Maithri had promised that all privileges due to you and the General would be restored. So far, he has kept most of his promises and we all expected you to return — although Mohan was trying his best to be as stubborn as he could.
I suppose you must be relieved that all the controversy is over now. It began nearly twenty years ago, when you were first appointed to the highest court. That was when you were an academic and handpicked by GL and appointed by Satellite. At that time too, there were protests against that!
There was a suggestion that your judgments would be ‘favourable’ to the powers that be. And, as Upul pointed out at your farewell, you did approve the 18th Amendment without a referendum — which gave Mahinda maama the chance to run for a third term. So, maybe you made some mistakes too.
Looking back at all that has happened, Shirani, you will agree that it was also not a wise decision for your husband Pradeep to accept a job as the boss of a big bank. I am not sure what you were thinking, but the powers that be obviously thought this appointment was a way of having you on ‘their side’.
Things began to change when you gave some judgments that were not quite to their liking and that is when they decided that you should go. Then, what happened to the General happened to you: hounded, humiliated, prosecuted and sent home, even though you were the highest judge in the land!
What was more disgraceful was the manner in which those in the Government insulted you when you came to Parliament to defend yourself. They raised their hands in unison to ‘impeach’ you because they feared Mahinda maama — and in their hurry to get it done, did not follow the correct procedure.
Like most things Mahinda maama did in the last years of his rule, he believed that he could do no wrong and that he would have his job for many more years to come. That is why they rushed your impeachment in an incorrect manner — paving the way for your return, despite Mohan’s objections.
Let us spare a thought for Mohan too, Shirani. He took up your vacancy when greater men declined the honour because they didn’t want to be part of a witch hunt. Then, he went on to curry favour with those who mattered at the time, even visiting them at midnight to watch election results!
He was obviously not a very good judge because he made bad decisions, even about himself. Why, if he had better judgment, he would have been our ambassador to Rome, even after doing everything that he did but he lost that opportunity too because he was so keen to stay on in office-like his Master!
Sarath has complained about the way in which Mohan was removed. He could have been impeached, but being Mohan, he would have sat in judgment on matters arising from that too. So, justice was done, though it may not have appeared to be done! And Sarath is responsible for some of this too!
Shirani, it was also quite graceful of you to retire, just a day after you resumed office. Somehow, it wouldn’t have appeared right for you to hold that high office, when there are still charges against you and your family. Now, you can quietly go about the task of clearing your name and reputation.
It is also a relief to know that we now have a new Chief Justice who is not a controversial choice — after about fifteen years. Let us hope that it is a beginning of a new culture where appointments are made on merit and people are not ‘handpicked’ to be the loyal servants of their masters.
I remember, when you were once asked whether you would take to politics like the General did to vindicate yourself you said you couldn’t, because you were still the lawful Chief Justice. I am glad that you have had the courage to fight injustice for two years — and that finally, you were proved right!
Yours truly,
Punchi Putha
PS: Isn’t it strange, Shirani, that you came into office because of a Peiris and you had to leave office because of a Peiris? Isn’t it also strange that Peirises seem to be the undoing of many Presidents? Mahinda maama was led to his defeat by those like GL and Mohan and Satellite made errors of omission and commission because of Ronnie. If I were Maithri, I wouldn’t have anyone named Peiris near me!