Ex-CJ appears before bribery commission

Sri Lanka’s former Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake,  who appeared before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption on Monday March 18, protested the investigations and obtained time till April 1 to file her objections, the ‘Dinamina’ newspaper reported.

Bandaranayake appeared with her attorneys Nalin Ladduwahetti and Sudath Caldera and refused to give her statement, saying she still functioned as the chief justice and there is no provision for the commission to file a case against her or investigate her.

The commission has stated that investigations into the allegations will continue “irrespective of the position or status of individuals summoned before the commission.”

According to the ‘Daily News’ newspaper, a spokesman for the commission said: “We summoned the individual concerned before the commission to obtain a statement. We are not in a position to take into consideration the individual’s position or his/her status. The commission will always be above such considerations.”

The spokesman said Bandaranayke has been provided an opportunity to make a submission by extending the date for the next hearing.

“As soon as we receive the submission, we will decide on the next step. The decision will made after studying her submission,” he said.

“If the commission was not satisfied with her submission about the charges against her, we will continue the investigation as per the legal provisions, whether or not she appears before the commission,” he added.
 
 

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.