CJ's Days Are Numbered? PM Assures BASL To Discuss Removal With President

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had said the decision with regard to Chief Justice Mohan Peiris's removal would be taken after a discussion with President Maithripala Sirisena.

The Prime Minister has made this remark in response to the Sri Lanka Bar Association’s (BASL) demands to oust chief Justice Mohan Peiris, who, according the BASL, is holding the office illegally. 

BASL on Saturday (17) demanded Mohan Peiris to step down from his position due to  allegations that he was involved in a ‘scheme’ with regard to Presidential Election results on January 9.

Speaking to media earlier, BASL Chairman Upul Jayasooriya asserted that they would take legal action against the Chief Justice if he did not resign from his position.

However, Prime Minister Wickremesignhe had promised the BASL that necessary action would be taken after an investigation and that he would hold a discussion  on this matter with the President.

Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, in the complaint he lodged with the CID, cited Mohan Peiris as one of the parties who hatched a plan at the Temple Trees to suspend the results and implement emergency law in the country on January 08.

It was widely reported that Prime Minister and UNP National Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, when he visited Temple Trees on early Friday morning, had met Chief Justice Peiris inside the former President’s residence. It was learnt that Wickremesinghe had asked Peiris as to what he was doing inside the President’s residence at that particular hour.

Peiris, in response, had said he visited Temple Trees to give some “legal opinion” to former President Rajapaksa.