This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-20164304

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Sri Lanka MPs begin impeachment of Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake Sri Lanka MPs begin impeachment of Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake
(about 1 hour later)
Sri Lankan governing party MPs have begun moves to impeach Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake.Sri Lankan governing party MPs have begun moves to impeach Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake.
A parliamentary motion to impeach Ms Bandaranayake was submitted on Thursday, officials say.A parliamentary motion to impeach Ms Bandaranayake was submitted on Thursday, officials say.
Impeachment is the only constitutional way to remove a sitting chief justice.Impeachment is the only constitutional way to remove a sitting chief justice.
Correspondents say the move is the latest manifestation of tension between the government and the judiciary, which has made some rulings unfavourable to it in recent months.Correspondents say the move is the latest manifestation of tension between the government and the judiciary, which has made some rulings unfavourable to it in recent months.
Ms Bandaranayake was appointed Sri Lanka's first woman chief justice last year. President Mahinda Rajapakse's UPFA party has enough seats for the impeachment to succeed, but the process could take monthsMs Bandaranayake was appointed Sri Lanka's first woman chief justice last year. President Mahinda Rajapakse's UPFA party has enough seats for the impeachment to succeed, but the process could take months
It is unclear what the precise charges against Ms Bandaranayake are, but the initial proposal has received the approval of the required number of lawmakers.It is unclear what the precise charges against Ms Bandaranayake are, but the initial proposal has received the approval of the required number of lawmakers.
On Tuesday the Human Rights Institute of the International Bar Association (IBAHRI) told BBC Sinhala that a move to impeach the chief justice runs the risk of being seen as an attempt to curtail the independence of the judiciary.On Tuesday the Human Rights Institute of the International Bar Association (IBAHRI) told BBC Sinhala that a move to impeach the chief justice runs the risk of being seen as an attempt to curtail the independence of the judiciary.
"The potential for any such action to be perceived as politically motivated in light of Supreme Court findings against the government on a matter of constitutional importance does give the appearance that in fact the impeachment might be linked to the judicial function - that [if] the government don't like what the judges are doing they are going to remove the chief justice," co-chair Baroness Helena Kennedy, QC, told BBC Sinhala's Saroj Pathirana."The potential for any such action to be perceived as politically motivated in light of Supreme Court findings against the government on a matter of constitutional importance does give the appearance that in fact the impeachment might be linked to the judicial function - that [if] the government don't like what the judges are doing they are going to remove the chief justice," co-chair Baroness Helena Kennedy, QC, told BBC Sinhala's Saroj Pathirana.
But the government categorically rejects such implications, describing them as "unfortunate".But the government categorically rejects such implications, describing them as "unfortunate".
Recently, Sri Lanka's Supreme Court ruled that a bill which proposed transfering vital powers held by Sri Lanka's provinces back to the central government needed prior approval from provincial councils. Recently, Sri Lanka's Supreme Court ruled that a bill which proposed transferring vital powers held by Sri Lanka's provinces back to the central government needed prior approval from provincial councils.
Rights review
Later on Thursday, Sri Lanka is to face its the Universal Periodic Review at the UN Human Rights Council.
Human rights campaigners have urged UN member states to subject Sri Lanka to tough scrutiny. India, Spain and Benin are the three randomly-selected members who will conduct the peer review.
Sri Lanka last faced the review four years ago when it was nearing the climax of a bloody separatist war with Tamil Tiger rebels.
Rights groups say that the country has done too little to address allegations that the army committed war crimes and accuse the government of perpetrating torture and enforced disappearances in peace time.
But the government denies these accusations, saying fewer than 8,000 people were killed in the war's final months and that it deserves more credit for putting thousands of former Tamil Tigers through a rehabilitation process.