COLOMBO: The sacked Chief Justice of Sri Lanka, Mohan Peiris, said on Saturday that his removal from office by President Maithripala Sirisena earlier in the week was unconstitutional.

“There are times when might overtakes right and the helpless have to succumb to injustice,” he said stating that he had not retired, resigned or vacated his office.

“I have not retired, resigned or vacated my office of Chief Justice, but due to exertions by external forces reinforced by an extra judicial chain of events, find myself displaced from office by an unconstitutional process.”

“I look upon myself as a Chief Justice and a citizen, who was empowered to carry out the solemn duty of ensuring the sovereignty of the people in the midst of great institutions such as the judiciary and the bar,” he said.

Justice K. Sripavan took oath as the 44th Chief Justice of Sri Lanka on Friday, replacing Shirani Bandaranayake who had retired just a day after being reinstated in that position.

Published in Dawn February 1st, 2015

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