The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) of Sri Lanka has informed the Immigration and Emigration Department that the former chief justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake is not allowed to leave the country.
Accordingly, Dr. Bandaranayke’s passport has been suspended until the probe against the former chief justice on the allegations of earning improper assets and non-declaration of assets and liabilities is completed by the Bribery Commission.
Reportedly the Commission has received information that the impeached top judge was planning to leave the country without appearing before the Commission to face the charges against her.
The Commission’s order to withhold her passport has been sent to the Director General of the Immigration and Emigration Department Chulananda Perera last week.
Chairman of the Commission Justice D.J. De S. Balapatabendi, Commissioners Justice L. K Wimalachandra and Dr. Jayantha Wickramaratne have signed the order to withhold Dr. Bandaranayke’s passport.
The Bribery Commission is investigating how the former Chief Justice amassed a wealth that cannot be obtained from the government service alone.
The former Chief justice has been ordered to respond to the Bribery or Corruption Commission on the charges against her on May 17th.
Dr. Bandaranayake, the first female Chief Justice of Sri Lanka was impeached in January this year by a parliamentary procedure. She has been summoned to appear before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption on 18th March 2013.
Thu, Apr 18, 2013, 11:06 am SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.