I have not criticized serving judges of Superior Courts - President

President Maithripala Sirisena today clarified that he had not criticised nor expressed objections towards judges who were serving in the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court. 

By Sandun Jayawardana

President Maithripala Sirisena today clarified that he had not criticised nor expressed objections towards judges who were serving in the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court. 

Speaking during the adjournment debate on the Constitutional Council (CC) in Parliament, President Sirisena claimed some Government and Opposition MPs who spoke during the debate had "misinterpreted" his earlier statements to claim that he was critical of certain judges whose appointment to the Superior Courts had been ratified by the CC. 

"There is no truth to these claims. I have nothing against the judges who were appointed to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, nor do I have any objection to any judge currently serving in these courts," the President insisted. 

He however, was critical of the 19th Amendment in its current form, likening it to a "disabled child." President Sirisena cited the example of the way the composition of the CC was changed at the last moment prior to its passage. Accordingly, the composition was changed from a ratio of 7:3 in favour of members of the civil society to 7:3 in favour of politicians. 

The President went onto say that the child that is the 19th Amendment has been "abused" by certain elements. 

He claimed his criticism was not about judges who had been appointed, but that those who had been rejected had not been given any explanation by the CC on why their names were rejected, adding that the CC had so far rejected the names of 14 judges who had been recommended for promotion.  

"Neither you (Speaker) nor the Chief Justice have ever notified me or any of these judges in writing as to why their names were passed over for promotion," President Sirisena added