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Select Comm. to probe CJ issue 

By Frederica Jansz 

The joint opposition is to call for a parliamentary select committee to probe the allegations being made against Chief Justice Sarath Nanda Silva.

The opposition is demanding a thorough probe into the matter, following the Chief Justice himself having initiated a high level police inquiry into charges made by five police officers that he was found in a compromising position in a parked car with a lady lawyer at Diyawanna Gardens.

The opposition maintains that if indeed five police officers have connived to frame the Chief Justice then it is a matter of the utmost seriousness and all police log and duty entries, including statements must be immediately made available to such a select committee for an impartial and unbiased perusal of the facts.

On the other hand, the joint opposition maintains that if the CJ is found to be lying or attempting to doctor available evidence then that too is a matter of serious concern as the ramifications for the nation in this context are huge.

The Chief Justice categorically denied all charges to The Sunday Leader asserting that never before in his entire 36 years of service as a public official has he been subjected to such "outrageous allegations."

Speaking bitterly against the police and the press, the CJ referring to this case said, "the media should be on my side - it is I who am the victim." He also defended the reputation of C. Deshani S. the lady with whom his name is now being linked asserting "she is a very nice and good person with a very promising career ahead of her - it is outrageous that her name is being slandered in this manner."

Despite the CJ's denials, fresh evidence unearthed last week indicates that the lady in question has repeatedly telephoned the Chief Justice on his personal mobile telephone number, at his chambers and his home at Katana where he retires to on a Sunday.

For instance, the lady telephoned the Chief Justice on the day of the incident on his mobile phone twice, at around 7.40 p.m. and again after 9.45 p.m. She also telephoned her husband on his mobile phone at around 10 p.m. that night. Yet, both she and her husband maintain they were both at home at 10 p.m. (See pages 12, 13 for details).

The charges and counter charges have now been compounded by yet another statement made by Chief Inspector C. V. Weerasena to the Special Investigations Unit. Weerasena has reaffirmed his previous position insisting the man he saw together with a young lady inside a parked car at Diyawanna Gardens on the night of July 6 was the Chief Justice.

In addition, the four police officers attached to the Talangama police have also made a joint entry asserting the male passenger in the car on the night of this incident produced an official identification card which stated him to be Chief Justice Sarath Nanda Silva.

President's Counsel, Desmond Fernando who is acting as legal counsel to Chief Inspector Weerasena meanwhile also in a strongly worded letter to Chairman, National Police Commission, Ranjit Abeysuriya has demanded that this investigation be taken away from police officers serving under Inspector General of Police Indra de Silva and instead handled by persons who are able to act impartially and with no bias.

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