Citizens’ Call

Jan 10, 2013 (LBO) - Friday Forum, a grouping of citizens have called upon Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa to respect the law and abide a court ruling on a planned impeachment of the country's chief justice.





"We urge that your Excellency, as Head of State, recognize and act according to the accepted norm that court decisions represent the law of the land irrespective of views one may hold as to their content," the Friday Forum said in a statement.

"They are binding unless constitutionally valid new legislation is enacted, or the decisions are overturned in appeal or in revision proceedings.

We urge you once again, most strongly, not to act on any address of Parliament that seeks to nullify court decisions."

Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranaike walked out of a parliamentary committee dominated by ruling coalition members saying she was not accorded due process or rules of natural justice.

The committee was later found to be unconstitutional by the Supreme Court and the country's court of appeal quashed its decision.

The full letter to the president is reproduced below.

9th January 2013

H. E. Mahinda Rajapakse

The President of Sri Lanka

Temple Trees

Colombo 3.