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Large protests break out in Sri Lanka demanding CJ's resignation

Xinhua, January 28, 2015 Adjust font size:

Sri Lankan lawyers and civil society organizations staged a large protest outside the Supreme Court in Colombo on Wednesday demanding the island's controversial chief justice to resign from his post.

With slogans saying "Send CJ44 home," the protestors demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Justice Mohan Peiris, claiming that his appointment was illegal.

The protestors also warned that the protests will continue outside the country's Supreme Court every morning till such time Peiris does step down. "He was appointed illegally by the former president. He is also a suspect in the coup attempt. He has to resign,"one lawyer at the protest demanded.

The newly elected Sri Lankan government has also urged the resignation of Peiris with the National Executive Committee stating that it would take action against Peiris "soon", if he does not resign.

The government had been in negotiations with the chief justice to hand him a diplomatic posting in order to resolve the matter amicably after the latter had demanded for such a posting in exchange for his resignation.

Meanwhile, the chief Justice lodged a complaint with the police on Wednesday, alleging that he was threatened by a group of people including a Western provincial councillor who had visited his home on Tuesday evening.

Police Spokesperson SSP Ajith Rohana told Xinhua that the chief justice had lodged the complaint alleging that the group including Provincial Councilor Azath Sally had threatened him to resign from his post immediately."We will investigate into the complaint,"SSP Rohana said.

However, Provincial Councilor Sally has denied these allegations.

Peiris has also been under continuous pressure to resign, due to his presence at the presidential office shortly after the Jan. 8 presidential election where it is alleged that the former government had been discussing a coup attempt.

Though the previous government has denied these allegations, the matter is being investigated after a complaint was lodged with the criminal investigations department by the newly elected Maithripala Sirisena government. Endi