I am the 43rd Chief Justice of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. As the Chief Justice, I have an obligation and an unwavering duty towards the judges, lawyers and the citizens at large of my country.
I stand here before you today having been unjustly persecuted, vilified and condemned. The treatment meted out to […]

Status Report of the Lawyers Collective
ISSUED ON 15th January 2013: 9.00 p.m.

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 […]

Status Report of Lawyers Collective
14th January 2013 (9.00 p.m)
The letter of removal of the Chief Justice was received by her on 13th January 2013.
The President has summoned judges of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and High Court 13th, 14th and 15th January respectively. There is no Constitutional tradition in Sri Lanka authorizing the President […]

“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 […]

“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 […]

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”, […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]