Sri Lankan MP demands response to allegations against Chief Justice

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Member of Parliament Dayasiri Jayasekara has formally requested clarification from Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne regarding serious allegations leveled against Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena.

The allegations raised in Parliament include claims concerning the Chief Justice’s family assets, specifically an estimated Rs. 185 million and a luxury residence in Colombo linked to his son. Additional concerns involve the validity of personal documentation, such as birth and marriage certificates, and potential delays or undue influence regarding judicial proceedings in the X-Press Pearl compensation case.

Jayasekara emphasized that while no conclusions have been reached regarding the truth of these claims, the Speaker must address them to maintain public confidence in the judiciary. He noted that if the allegations are true, they threaten judicial independence and ethics; if false, their public airing in Parliament could unfairly damage the Chief Justice’s reputation and the dignity of the judicial institution. The MP has asked whether evidence has been submitted to Parliament or if preliminary inquiries have been initiated.