(Lanka-e-News -16.Jan.2013, 11.30PM) A most shameful and repugnant situation was created at the official residence of the Chief justice located at Wijerama Mawatha when policemen intruded into it and stationed themselves from last morning even inside the rooms ,whereby the chief justice (CJ) was not allowed the right to privacy to change even her clothes. The CJ was unarmed but the regime was fully armed. In order to avert conflicts , the household goods in her official residence were removed by her in yesterday morning , and she left the premises in the evening at about 5.30
Though there were the local and international media expecting her to make a speech before she left , a police scoundrel Premalal Ranagala ordered the media to leave. The media then retorted that they were in the highway . When Ranagala pointed out that was a high security zone , and they must leave, the media questioned , how is that Ceylinco depositors were allowed to erect shelters and stay there in that zone recently for many days eating kiribath?
Ranagala alias Balugala who was nonplussed , tried to defend himself by claiming that Ms. Shiranee Bandaranaike is no longer the CJ . But the media insisted that they will wait until the new CJ arrived.
When the CJ came out , Ranagala lived up to his name Balugala by behaving like a hooligan when dispersing the crowds that had converged. The vehicle to fetch the CJ was driven by her son . After the shutter was put down , the media wanted her to make a comment.
“I am sorry I did not get an opportunity to thank any one. I will issue a communiqué .I performed my duties for the last 16 years with dedication and abiding by the laws. I always thought of the people. I shall be so in the future too. I am always with the people whom I love. I am innocent. I carried out my duties for the last 32 years without taking leave. I have never taken a vehicle permit. The security for the three of us is in the hands of the public. Thank you very much.” She made these comments to the media amidst much obstruction from Ranagala alias Balugala, the police scoundrel. (See the video -http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_h9kLf1E15c)
During the demonstrations staged at Aluthkade this morning , Watagala , attorney at law explained , over 5000 students are going to the University and Rs. 50000 million in funds of lakhs of Samurdhi recipients had been protected owing to the CJ .Yet it is this same CJ who had been driven to the streets without the pension , he bemoaned.
This is the Status Report of the Lawyers CollectiveISSUED ON 15th January 2013: 9.00 p.m.
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On 14th January, around 7.00 pm the Secretary to the President and DIG Anura Senanyaka required the Registrar of the Supreme Court to pack all belongings of the Chief Justice (Dr. Bandarayaka) and send the same to her official residence. The Registrar had also been told that a new Chief Justice would arrive on the following day and everything must be cleared for him. In the night, on 14th January, a large number of Defence personnel had occupied the Superior Court Complex.
On 15th January, early hours the Supreme Court Complex was cordoned off and was fortified with riot squads, barricades and water cannons. All the vehicles including that of the lawyers were checked to see whether Chief Justice Bandaranayaka was entering the Court premises. Police officers openly said that they received orders not to permit the Chief Justice Bandaranayaka to enter Courts Complex. Around 9.45 am the road leading to Supreme Court Judges’ Entrance (Adhikarana Mawatha ) was sealed off. Armed police and STF personnel prevented people entering the Courts complex or its vicinity.
Around 10.30 am, approximately 200 people (including some goons) accompanied by Government politicians entered the cordoned off area, with active protection from the police. They stayed in one group opposite the main entrance to the Supreme Court Complex, shouting slogans (cheering the President, new Chief Justice, Wijedasa Rajapaksa-President BASL and BASL).
The Media was not permitted within the Courts premises. However, a large number of media personnel were present outside the main entrance to the Courts Complex. When two lawyers walked out of the Courts premises to talk to the media and to invite the media inside the Court Premises, the armed police and senior police officers prevented the two lawyers re-entering into the Courts premises. Several lawyers gathered and protested to the police for barricading the Courts and blocking the entrance. However, with the intervention of the lawyers, the two lawyers managed to re-enter. Around 12.00 noon, a large number of lawyers held a day light vigil (holding candles in broad day light) symbolizing the onset of darkness in the days to come.
Mr. Mohan Peiris PC was sworn in as a Chief Justice and arrived in the Courts complex around 1.30pm.
Lady Chief Justice’s residence was cordoned off and senior Police Officers were seen even within the premises. The Chief Justice was told by Police Officers that she cannot speak to the media in the official residence, as she is no longer the Chief Justice. The media gathered outside the residence was asked to leave by the police. They resisted and remained. The journalists reminded the Police of Golden Key depositors protests, who camped outside the official residence with the blessings of the Government and who had full media coverage, with police protection. When the Lady Chief Justice came out of the residence, she was prevented from speaking to the media freely but managed she managed to speak few words from the vehicle, stating that she and her family need protection. She thereafter issued a written statement in all three languages. (LeN published it on yesterday)
