News
Scramble to fill vacant Supreme Court seat
Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya and Attorney General Dappula de Livera have recommended two separate persons to sit on a vacant Supreme Court seat amidst a judicial service inquiry into taped conversations between judges and an MP and a string of Commissions of Inquiry into alleged misdeeds of the former government.
Court of Appeal President Yasantha Kodagoda has been nominated by the Chief Justice to fill the vacancy created in the Supreme Court by the sudden demise of Justice Prasanna Jayawardena, while Additional Deputy Solicitor General and Bribery and Corruption Commission Director General Sarath Jayamanne has been nominated by the Attorney General.
The Sunday Times also learns that a request has been made to the President to appoint someone from the Unofficial Bar to fill Justice Jayawardena’s seat as the late Justice was appointed to the Supreme Court from the Unofficial Bar. Accordingly, names of three President’s Counsel from the Unofficial Bar have also been forwarded to the President.
Another in contention is former Court of Appeal Judge Deepali Wijesundara, who was the most senior judge on the Appeals Court bench prior to her retirement last month.
A suitable name will be forwarded by the President to the Constitutional Council for approval. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya leads the Council.
Meanwhile Chief Justice Jayasuriya has directed the Secretary to the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) to call for explanations from two sitting judges and a retired judge who allegedly discussed pending cases with former State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake.
The judges whose explanation has been sought are High Court judges Gihan Pilapitiya and Dhammika Hemapala and retired judge Padmini N. Ranawaka Gunatillake.
The move came after the High Court Judges Association and the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, among others, called for an inquiry into the issue where the judges had spoken to Mr Ramanayake.
The Chief Justice met with JSC members Justice Sisira de Abrew and Justice Buweneka Aluvihare this week before issuing the directive.
The JSC also believes that investigating authorities will submit any other names which transpire during investigations into the telephone recordings of former state minister Ramanayake.
Retired Supreme Court Judge Jagath Balapatabendi will head a Commission of Inquiry that will probe the Commission to Investigate Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) and the Police Special Investigation Unit (SIU).
The appointment of this Commission has been gazetted together with another one to probe the divesting of Edirisinghe Trust and Investments (ETI).
Another Commission of Inquiry, to be headed by State Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, will probe complaints from State Sector employees of transfers and promotions carried out for political reasons.