Supreme Court rules that parliamentary committee does not have the power to disqualify the Sri Lanka's Chief Justice

The Supreme Court has declared that a parliamentary committee does not have the power to disqualify the Chief Justice from office, escalating a showdown between the legislature and the judiciary.

The case against Shirani Bandaranayake, Sri Lanka’s first female Chief Justice, drew worldwide criticism following the government attempt to stifle the judiciary’s independence.

Three Supreme Court judges ruled yesterday that the select committee that investigated Dr Bandaranayake “has no legal power or authority to make a finding adversely affecting the legal rights of a judge”.

AP