Chief Justice Mohan Peiris today created history by becoming the first Chief Justice of Sri Lanka to be questioned by Police over an attempted coup against a democratically elected government.

The CID today recorded a statement from the Chief Justice at the Supreme Court Premises, Home Affairs Minister John Amaratunga confirmed media on Friday evening.

With this development, the government has given clear indication to the Chief Justice – who was present at Temple Trees on election night –  that he faces the risk of prosecution even if he remains in the position. One of the key ‘witnesses’ against him was Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who had met him at Temple Trees  in the wee hours of January 09.

Although Chief Justice Mohan Periris had told the Prime Minister that he met the former President at his residence to give some “legal opinion”, the CJ’s presence at Temple Trees alone creates solid grounds to develop a case against him. In this context, one has every reason to believe that prosecution of the Chief Justice is very much written on the wall!

In the face of such a development, the CJ’s continuation in office would become a serious and complicated problem. “It will”, legal experts affiliated with the government say, “also reflect badly on the country’s judiciary.”

“Probably this is his last chance to step down from office honorably and avoid another clash between the Executive and the judiciary,” they added.

The only option for the Chief Justice, at this point, would be to resign from his position and face ongoing investigations. However, sources from Hulftsdorp told Asian Mirror that the CJ was not prepared to resign – at least at this point. This would lead to a keen tussle between the government and the Chief Justice who was elevated to the position after the hurried impeachment of CJ-43 Shirani Bandaranaike.

Upul Jayasooriya, President of Sri Lanka Bar Association told media yesterday that Peiris was refusing to step down from office unless he was given a diplomatic posting to London, Brazil or Rome.

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