COLOMBO, Jan 15: Former Attorney General Mohan Peiris was sworn in on Tuesday as Sri Lanka’s 44th ChiefJustice, amid a raging controversy over the sacking of the previous CJ, Shirani Bandaranayake, by President Mahinda Rajapaksa last Sunday.

Bandaranayake’s dismissal, through an allegedly flawed process, had set a good section of Lanka’s judges and lawyers against the government and parliament, and invited widespread domestic and international criticism of the Rajapaksa regime.

Mohan Peiris had entered the bar in 1975, and joined the Attorney General’s Department as a state counsel in 1981. He had been in the AG’s department right through his career, rising to be the attorney general.

After retirement, he was functioning as President Rajapaksa’s Adviser on legal affairs. Peiris’ appointment as CJ had taken place amidst objections. The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) filed a Fundamental Rights petition in the Supreme Court on Tuesday, praying for the annulment of Peiris’ appointment on the grounds that there was “no valid vacancy”.

Meanwhile, outgoing CJ Ms Bandaranayake declared on Tuesday that she continued to be the chief justice because her removal had been both unfair and unconstitutional. Her position had been “usurped”, she said in a statement.

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.