Monthly Archives: January 2013


Impeachment, mob rule and Rajapaksa

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has acted swiftly after the impeachment of Chief Justice Shirani
Bandaranayake by Parliament to issue a Presidential decree that removes her from office. This letter has been delivered to the Chief Justice. However, there is considerable support from the legal fraternity that she remains Chief Justice regardless of the Presidential letter. This is […]

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By Dr. Jehan Perera | Published on January 15, 2013 at 1:20 am

Rajapaksa sends letter removing CJ as lawyers dig in their heels

“We salute the Chief Justice for her courage & She remains the Chief Justice”
H.E President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s purported letter of removal has been received by the Chief Justice. The Lawyers Collective states that this removal affects the very foundation of independence of the Judiciary, the Rule of Law and all basic norms of a working […]

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By Lawyers Collective | Published on January 13, 2013 at 10:08 pm

Obituary – Death of twin brother and sister

Death of twin brother and sister
J. U’stice and T. Ruth, beloved twin children born to parents Lanka Raj and Lanka Rani, beloved nephew and niece of H. O’nesty and B. Ravery passed away in unfortunate circumstances in the halls of PSC, located near Sri Jayewardenepura, at the hands of goons led by Y. Apa and […]

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By | Published on January 13, 2013 at 6:42 am

Rizana, Shirani and why the Lankan crisis cannot be resolved as long as the Rajapaksas are in power

“Why couldn’t you at least get my child’s body down?” – Rizana’s mother queries the government (BBC – 11.1.2013)
Rizana Nafik was beheaded at 11.40 am on 9th January 2013. Two hours later, at 1.40 pm, Minister Dilan Perera informed the Lankan parliament that “the government has done everything to save Rizana and she will be released […]

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By Tisaranee Gunasekara | Published on January 13, 2013 at 1:35 am

When parliament interpreted the law

For whom the Bell tolls!
01. The Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka purportedly consists of representatives elected by the Sovereign people of Sri Lanka. This Parliament is currently debating (on 10th and 11th January 2013), what is undoubtedly the most “momentous” issue ever placed on the order paper of Parliament. “Momentous” for the reason that their “inevitable”, […]

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By Elmore Perera, Attorney-at-Law | Published on January 12, 2013 at 6:01 am

How parliament killed democracy in Sri Lanka: A brief record of events

11th January 2013 : 11.00 p.m.
1. Black flags were raised in court houses all over the island in protest of the impending illegal
impeachment to be voted on in Parliament. Sections of the general public also wore black to express their solidarity. Most of the courts were closed throughout the day in protest
2. The Lawyers’ Collective […]

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By Lawyers Collective | Published on January 12, 2013 at 5:27 am

Black day in history of Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka’s Chief Justice impeached

Sri Lanka’s Chief Justice has been impeached. The whole process was unconstitutional and
politically motivated.
Repeatedly institutions, intellectuals, political parties and individuals – at national and international level – requested the Government not to proceed with the impeachment. All such requests were ignored. Even those by religious dignitaries were thrown away. The Highest Court of the land […]

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By Lawyers Collective | Published on January 12, 2013 at 12:44 am

Rajapaksa’s Sri Lanka like Hitler’s Germany says Lasantha’s wife Sonali

Four years after the brutal assassination of the Founding Editor-in-Chief of The Sunday Leader newspaper Lasantha Wickrematunge, the police are yet to make a breakthrough and the murderers are roaming free.
Two suspects were arrested following Wickrematunge’s murder – Kandegedara Piyawansha and Pichchai Jesudasan.
Piyawansha, a former military intelligence officer, was released on bail in 2010 after […]

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By Nirmala Kannangara | Published on January 12, 2013 at 12:31 am

Battling to preserve an independent judiciary and bring about national reconciliation

January 9, 2013, 8:45 pm
Dubious record
Earlier this week the Rajapaksa Administration added yet another dubious distinction to its
governance records by breaking decades of parliamentary tradition and forcing on the order paper of Parliament the debate and vote on the impeachment motion against Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake.
Walked out
Traditionally and historically the agenda of parliament, is agreed […]

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By Harim Peiris | Published on January 11, 2013 at 7:33 am

Rajapaksas bring guns and clubs to peaceful protest

Situation Report of Lawyers Collective
10th January 2013: 9.00p.m.
1. Peoples’ March organized by Lawyers’ Collective.
(a) By 7.30a.m (Hulftsdorp – around the Supreme Court premises) the Government had deployed hundreds of goons with placards against the Chief Justice. Among those deployed were Civil Defence Force Officers disguised in civil clothing. Four groups of thugs armed with clubs […]

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By Lawyers Collective | Published on January 11, 2013 at 7:21 am


Opinion

Impeachment, mob rule and Rajapaksa

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has acted swiftly after the impeachment of Chief Justice Shirani President Rajapaksa Bandaranayake by Parliament to issue a Presidential decree that removes her from ...

Issues

Rajapaksa sends letter removing CJ as lawyers dig in their heels

“We salute the Chief Justice for her courage & She remains the Chief Justice” H.E President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s purported letter of removal has been received by ...

Appreciation

Obituary – Death of twin brother and sister

Death of twin brother and sister J. U’stice and T. Ruth, beloved twin children born to parents Lanka Raj and Lanka Rani, beloved nephew and niece ...

Issues

Rizana, Shirani and why the Lankan crisis cannot be resolved as long as the Rajapaksas are in power

“Why couldn’t you at least get my child’s body down?” – Rizana’s mother queries the government (BBC – 11.1.2013) Rizana Nafik was beheaded at 11.40 am on ...

Issues

When parliament interpreted the law

For whom the Bell tolls! 01. The Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka purportedly consists of representatives elected by the Sovereign people of Sri Lanka. ...

Issues

How parliament killed democracy in Sri Lanka: A brief record of events

11th January 2013 : 11.00 p.m. 1. Black flags were raised in court houses all over the island in protest of the impending illegal Lawyers accuse the ...

Issues

Black day in history of Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka’s Chief Justice impeached

Sri Lanka’s Chief Justice has been impeached. The whole process was unconstitutional and Lawyers hung a black flag as a sign of protest against the government’s ...

Human Rights

Rajapaksa’s Sri Lanka like Hitler’s Germany says Lasantha’s wife Sonali

Four years after the brutal assassination of the Founding Editor-in-Chief of The Sunday Leader newspaper Lasantha Wickrematunge, the police are yet to make a breakthrough ...

Opinion

Battling to preserve an independent judiciary and bring about national reconciliation

January 9, 2013, 8:45 pm Dubious record Earlier this week the Rajapaksa Administration added yet another dubious distinction to its OI VEY! governance records by breaking decades of parliamentary ...

Issues

Rajapaksas bring guns and clubs to peaceful protest

Situation Report of Lawyers Collective 10th January 2013: 9.00p.m. 1. Peoples’ March organized by Lawyers’ Collective. (a) By 7.30a.m (Hulftsdorp – around the Supreme Court premises) the Government ...