COLOMBO, Jan 1: The UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, Gabriela Knaul, has appealed to the Sri Lankan government to ‘reconsider’ the impeachment of Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, and stop harassment of lawyers because these actions are violations of international humanitarian law.

“I urge again the authorities of Sri Lanka to reconsider the impeachment of the Chief Justice due to the lack of due process and fair trial guarantees, and to ensure that the judiciary can operate free from external pressures, threats or any interference,” Knaul said in a statement.

“It is of high concern to me that the procedure for the removal of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is extremely politicised and characterised by lack of transparency, lack of clarity in the proceedings, as well as lack of respect for the fundamental guarantees of due process and fair trial,” she said.