UNP wants int’l observers to witness proceedings

Also calls for a live telecast of the hearings

The main opposition UNP stressed yesterday that international and local legal experts should be allowed to observe the proceedings of the impeachment motion against the Chief Justice, also calling for a live telecast of the hearing.

UNP Senior Vice President and MP Lakshman Kiriella told journalists that observers from the International

Government should allow independent observers from home and abroad and also a live telecast of the proceedings as it was essential to determine the charges against the Chief Justice are genuine or fabricated

Bar Association, International Commission of Jurists and representatives of BASL and local Judges Association should be allowed to observe the proceedings in order to ensure transparency.

He said the government should allow independent observers both from home and abroad and also a live telecast of the proceedings as it was essential to determine the charges against Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake are genuine or fabricated ones. Besides he said these are practices followed by many countries today.

He also said the UNP would have to participate in the select committee proceedings as it has been made compulsory that opposition members participate in it by the Constitution. Mr. Kiriella further stressed that the UNP should participate so that the party would be able to determine the charges against the Chief Justice. “We have decided to participate in the select committee proceedings in order to ensure justice to Chief Justice,” he said.

Mr. Kiriella said there were constitutional flaws when it came to the impeachment as the question arose as to whether the Members of Parliament could exercise judicial powers. In this context he said MPs would be exercising a judicial activity by examining the charges against the Chief Justice. He said the MPs would be exercising judicial powers in such a process which was against the Constitution. This he said by stressing that the neither Executive, judiciary nor the legislature could overpower each other according to the Constitution.

It has been made compulsory that opposition members participate in it by the Constitution. Mr. Kiriella further stressed that the UNP should participate so that the party would be able to determine the charges against the Chief Justice. “We have decided to participate in the select committee proceedings in order to ensure justice to Chief Justice