Parliamentarian Dayasiri Jayasekara has formally written to Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne requesting clarification on a series of allegations raised in Parliament concerning Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena.
In his letter, Jayasekara noted that several Members had recently presented serious claims in the Chamber, including matters relating to the Chief Justice’s family assets, personal documentation, and his role in the X‑Press Pearl compensation case.
Among the allegations highlighted were:
- Acquisition of assets said to involve Rs. 185 million and a luxury house in Colombo, linked to the Chief Justice’s son.
- Questions on asset declarations and their sources.
- Doubts over personal documents including birth and marriage certificates.
- Concerns about delays in judicial proceedings connected to the X‑Press Pearl case.
- Claims of undue influence between family assets and the compensation process.
Jayasekara stressed that he had not reached any conclusion on the truth of these allegations, but warned that ignoring them could undermine public confidence in the judiciary.
He argued that if proven true, the claims would raise grave concerns about judicial independence, ethics, and the rule of law, requiring investigation by competent independent authorities.
Conversely, if false, he said their public airing in Parliament could cause serious harm to the Chief Justice’s reputation and the dignity of the judiciary, making clarification essential.
The MP asked the Speaker to confirm whether evidence or documents had been submitted to Parliament, whether preliminary inquiries had been initiated, and whether the matters would be referred to independent authorities.
He also sought clarification on whether the Attorney General’s Department or other institutions had provided official responses regarding the X‑Press Pearl case.
Jayasekara concluded that his request was not intended to disrespect the Chief Justice or the judiciary, but to ensure that if the allegations are true, justice is upheld, and if false, the integrity of the judicial system is protected. (Newswire)
