IMPEACHMENT MOTION PASSED IN PARLIAMENT

Impeachment motion passed in Parliament with a large majority
Only President’s approval in needed

The Likely replacement is former Attorney General Mohan Peiris.

The impeachment debate against the Chief Justice Dr Shirani Bandaranayake was held in Parliament. At the election the Government obtained 155 votes as against 49 votes cast by the Opposition parties. Accordingly the election was won by the Government by a huge majority of 106 votes. A few members of the Government abstained from voting. Strangely the members of the JVP were not present at the debate and the election. The next step would be to obtain the consent and the decision of the Executive President.
If the President decides to remove the Chief Justice Dr Shirani Bandaranayake, from her post there would be an intense tussle as to  who would be appointed as the next Chief Justice. This has given a moment for many to ponder as to who would be her successor. There are three Supreme Court Judges as the contenders. They are former Attorney General Mohan Pieris, Shiranee Thilakawardena and Sathya Hettige who are the strongest contenders.
It should be mentioned that the former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva who was an extreme antagonist of the President had been supporting the impeachment motion against the Chief justice and removing her from her position. This had many persons to ponder in suspicion. However the latest news had revealed that former Attorney General Mohan Peiris would be appointed as the next Chief Justice.