NSB controversy to control Chief Justice

( May 09, 2012, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Although several private media institutions loyal to the President have tried to state that the National Savings Bank’s (NSB) move to purchase shares of The Finance was without the President’s knowledge, it is learnt that it was a political conspiracy carried out on a Presidential directive.

The main aim of the conspiracy is to control Chief Justice, Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake. The Chief Justice in the past has acted as a loyal servant of the Rajapaksas. However, several Supreme Court judges have recently explained to her the need to act in a manner to build confidence in the country’s judiciary, which is currently at a level of deterioration.

Judges Chandra Ekanayake, S.I. Imam, Priyasath Dep and K Sripavan have met the Chief Justice and discussed at the length the need to protect the standards of the country’s judiciary. They have therefore discussed that the judiciary needed to act in a fair manner where cases concerning the government were taken up for hearing.

However, the President had learnt about the discussion and fearing that the Chief Justice could change course as a result, had decided to entangle her husband, NSB Chairman, Pradeep Kariyyawasam in an alleged financial fraud in order to control her, a senior official from the Presidential Secretariat said.

The President has assigned the main task in this conspiracy to a director at the NSB and a President’s astrological advisor, Sumanadasa and has also called for assistance from the head of the Hiru radio network and a friend of the Rajapaksas, Raynor de Silva.

The Finance shares that were purchased by the NSB were owned by Raynor de Silva and one of his friends.

A few days prior to the transaction, the President had directed the head of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Thilak Karunaratne to withdraw certain regulations in order enable NSB’s transaction.

President’s astrological advisor, Sumanadasa has played a great role in getting the NSB Chairman to approve this share purchase. Most of the details behind this share transaction have now been received by Pradeep Kariyawasam and his family members. They have asked him to resign from the post without continuing in place where he has been betrayed.

Shirani Bandaranayake who was sworn in as the Chief Justice on May 18, 2011 could legally hold the post for the next nine years. Therefore, she would play a key role in issuing verdicts on cases related to the government.

A senior legal analyst who spoke to us about his issue said that Shirani Bandaranayake also possessed the ability to serve like Chief Justice Neville Samarakoon who acted against the illegal actions of then President J.R. Jayewardene.

He added that every one in the legal profession in the country were hopeful that Bandaranayake would act like Samarakoon in a manner that would protect the dignity of the country’s judiciary.