Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake
Publication
of a biography by former President Chandrika Kumaratunga as a
self-expression was important news for me as one who had written a book
about her. Further, the news that the keynote address at the book launch
was to be delivered by Shirani Bandaranayake, a former Chief Justice,
was another reason that aroused my interest. I did not get an
opportunity to read the book yet, but I listened to the speech made by
her at the book launch. I feel it was a speech not befitting a person
who had held such high office as the Chief Justice of the country.
Raising Chandrika to exemplary heights:
There is nothing wrong with Shirani Bandaranayakehaving a sense of
deep gratitude for former President Chandrika and expressing it. But,
the manner in which it was pronounced by her as a former Chief Justice,
and the essence of her speech do not befit the dignity of the high
office held by her. According to her, Chandrika is an ideal character of
hers; she has not only attached the highest importance to the
independence of the judiciary but also made many sacrifices to safeguard
the independence of the judiciary. This statement about President
Chandrika has been made not by an ordinary party member, but a former
Chief Justice.
The impression it creates is not beneficial to the judiciary either.
Chandrika is an ideal heroine for her. The most infamous election fraud
in Sri Lanka took place during her tenure. It was also during her regime
that the parliamentarians of the ruling party were allowed to become
tavern owners. The plunder and the rapacious nature of the state
administration assumed the character of an unceasing flow during her
regime.