The Impeachment: What I Said Was Edited Out By Ceylon Today

By Rajiva Wijesinha -August 29, 2013 

Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha MP

Ceylon Today asked several questions with regard to the impeachment. Though its assumption that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rightswas going to meet Shirani Bandaranayaka may have been misplaced, it seemed necessary to answer the questions and also to reproduce the full answers since some of what I said was edited out.

1.    Reports indicate that the High Commissioner is going to meet deposed Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake during her visit. Isn’t this a clear snub to the government which has consistently attempted to vilify and condemn her?

Given the controversy the impeachment caused, it is understandable that the High Commissioner would want to meet Mrs Bandaranayake.

2.    Obviously Pillay meeting Dr. Bandaranayke will be interpreted as a show of tacit support and an acknowledgment that she was unjustly and arbitrarily removed from her post.  Do you think the President will interpret her moves to visit Dr. Bandaranayake in this manner or else how do you think he will view it?

I think he will understand that the High Commissioner is working in terms of her mandate. I hope however that government people who meet her will be able to show the rationale for the impeachment.

3.    Do you think the government is unhappy that Pillay is going to meet the former Chief Justice?

There will be some people in government who will be unhappy with anything Ms Pillay does.

4.    Several independent international legal analysts and commentators including diplomatic missions have voiced the view that Dr. Bandaranayke is being unduly persecuted post-impeachment . They have voiced the view that the charges leveled against her by the Bribery Commission are fake. What do you have to say about this and do you agree?Read More