Former Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, PC, yesterday (17) found fault with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for withdrawing the nomination of Court of Appeal judge M. T. Mohamed Lafar to the Supreme Court.

The President shouldn’t have reversed his decision under any circumstances, the one-time President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) said. He was responding to the front-page The Island report in its 16 June edition, headlined ‘SC appointment: AKD withdraws his nominee, SJB to raise issue in House’

The ex-Minister emphasised that those who had been critical of President Dissanayake for sending Lafar’s name to the Constitutional Council on 9 June, ahead of justice Gamini Amarasekera’s retirement on 20 June, conveniently forget that the process of filling a vacancy should begin before the actual retirement. Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne heads the 10-member CC which includes three civil society representatives.

Rajapakshe also challenged the criticism directed at President Dissanayake for proposing Lafar for a position in the apex court without obtaining Chief Justice Murdu Fernando, PC. “The President’s nominee is definitely not subjected to the CJ’s approval,” the ex-parliamentarian said, urging the National People’s Power (NPP) government not to succumb to unfair criticism.

Over the last week, SJB frontliner Dayasiri Jayaskera, MP, said that the issue at hand would be raised in Parliament.

The Island learns that CJ Fernando had submitted her observations to President Dissanayake. Former Minister Jayasekera said that he was aware of the decision to withdraw Lafar’s nomination.

Speaker’s Office sources told The Island that they couldn’t comment on the issue without consulting the Speaker. Sources in the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) said that a couple of judicial appointments were due soon and the BASL’s official comment could be made available once it studied the developments.

Other sources said that the President intended to fill the vacancy to be created by justice Gamini Amarasekera’s retirement, on 20 June, with Lafar, who is the current President of the Court of Appeal. However, Lafar is to retire on 18 June, after having reached the retirement age on 18 June, sources said.

Responding to queries, Dr. Rajapakshe said that though people could appeal to the Supreme Court against Court of Appeal decisions they were two separate institutions under the CJ and President of the Court of Appeal, respectively. The former Minister also stressed the importance of maintaining, what he called, a healthy balance in the combination of Supreme Court judges from the Attorney General’s Department, career judges and private bar. The former MP alleged over the years that the required balance had been lost to the advantage of the Attorney General’s Department.

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The Energy Ministry has assured the public that there are sufficient fuel stocks in the country for two months. The Ministry has said the ongoing Iran-Israel war will not cause fuel shortage, contrary to social media reports. The Ministry has urged the general public not to be misled by false claims.

Committee probing IGP meets again

Three more witnesses testified, on Monday, before the Committee of Inquiry appointed to inquire and report its findings on Inspector General of Police T.M.W. Deshabandhu Tennakoon in respect of acts of gross abuse of power, according to a press release issued by Parliament.

The Committee, chaired by Supreme Court Judge P.P. Surasena and comprising Justice W.M.N.P. Iddawala and E.W.M. Lalith Ekanayake, Chairman, National Police Commission, convened at Parliament from 9.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m..

During previous sitting held on 11 June, four witnesses gave evidence before the Committee. However, the testimony of one witness could not be concluded on that day. Accordingly, the witness appeared today and concluded his testimony. In addition, three more witnesses gave and concluded their evidence on Tuesday.

During the proceedings, Additional Solicitor General (President’s Counsel) Dileepa Peiris and Deputy Solicitor General Rajitha Perera, representing the Attorney General’s Department, along with R.S. Weerawickrama, Attorney-at-Law, appearing on behalf of the Inspector General of Police, cross-examined the witnesses.

Seven witnesses have so far testified before the Committee. The Committee of Inquiry met yesterday (17).