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| New Sri Lanka chief justice sworn in amid opposition | New Sri Lanka chief justice sworn in amid opposition |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Sri Lanka has sworn in a new chief justice to replace the judge removed last week, amid opposition from the legal community and international condemnation. | Sri Lanka has sworn in a new chief justice to replace the judge removed last week, amid opposition from the legal community and international condemnation. |
| On Sunday the president dismissed Shirani Bandaranayake by ratifying parliament's vote to impeach her. | On Sunday the president dismissed Shirani Bandaranayake by ratifying parliament's vote to impeach her. |
| But she is still being recognised by most lawyers who have condemned her removal as politically motivated. | But she is still being recognised by most lawyers who have condemned her removal as politically motivated. |
| The government denies it turned against her after some unfavourable judgements. | The government denies it turned against her after some unfavourable judgements. |
| The country's new chief justice is Mohan Peiris, who is a former attorney general and was the government's senior legal adviser. | The country's new chief justice is Mohan Peiris, who is a former attorney general and was the government's senior legal adviser. |
| Security forces were present at the Supreme Court and police sources told the BBC that they had instructions not to let Dr Bandaranayake in amid fears she would refuse to step down. | Security forces were present at the Supreme Court and police sources told the BBC that they had instructions not to let Dr Bandaranayake in amid fears she would refuse to step down. |
| But, the BBC's Charles Haviland in Colombo reports, sources say that Dr Bandaranayake "will not demean the judiciary by trying to enter Supreme Court premises while security forces are there in force". | But, the BBC's Charles Haviland in Colombo reports, sources say that Dr Bandaranayake "will not demean the judiciary by trying to enter Supreme Court premises while security forces are there in force". |
| Other reports say she has moved out of the chief justice's official residence. | Other reports say she has moved out of the chief justice's official residence. |
| Process 'unconstitutional' | Process 'unconstitutional' |
| Dr Bandaranayake, 54, faced an 11-member parliamentary committee late last year which investigated 14 charges of financial and official misconduct against her - charges she denies | Dr Bandaranayake, 54, faced an 11-member parliamentary committee late last year which investigated 14 charges of financial and official misconduct against her - charges she denies |
| Two recent court rulings found the impeachment process was unconstitutional. | Two recent court rulings found the impeachment process was unconstitutional. |
| But the parliament, which is dominated by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa's supporters, nevertheless voted to remove her. | But the parliament, which is dominated by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa's supporters, nevertheless voted to remove her. |
| Our correspondent says that the government's disregard for the Supreme Court has triggered international and domestic dismay. | Our correspondent says that the government's disregard for the Supreme Court has triggered international and domestic dismay. |
| An umbrella group of lawyers has said that it does not accept the dismissal and the Commonwealth has said it is deeply concerned. | |
| The US state department has also said that the impeachment "raises serious questions about the separation of powers in Sri Lanka, which is a fundamental tenet of a healthy democracy". | The US state department has also said that the impeachment "raises serious questions about the separation of powers in Sri Lanka, which is a fundamental tenet of a healthy democracy". |
| Prominent Sri Lankan diplomat, Dayan Jayatilleka, said he was "appalled" at parliament's non-adherence to the rulings of the judiciary. | Prominent Sri Lankan diplomat, Dayan Jayatilleka, said he was "appalled" at parliament's non-adherence to the rulings of the judiciary. |
| But the government has also repeatedly brought thousands of its supporters to the streets declaring Dr Bandaranayake corrupt - a message echoed by the obedient state media, our correspondent says. | But the government has also repeatedly brought thousands of its supporters to the streets declaring Dr Bandaranayake corrupt - a message echoed by the obedient state media, our correspondent says. |