Impeachment of Shirani Bandaranayake

Shirani Bandaranayake, the 43rd Chief Justice of Sri Lanka, was impeached by Parliament and then removed from office by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in January 2013.^[1][2] Bandaranayake was accused of a number of charges including financial impropriety and interfering in legal cases,^[3] all of which she has denied.^[4] The impeachment followed a series of rulings against the government by the Supreme Court, including one against a bill proposed by Minister Basil Rajapaksa, President Rajapaksa's brother.^[5] Bandaranayake was replaced as chief justice by former Attorney General Mohan Peiris.^[6] Peiris is considered to be an ally of President Rajapaksa and his appointment is seen by critics as further consolidation of power by the president and his family.^[7][8] Bandaranayake refused to recognise the impeachment and lawyers groups refused to work with the new chief justice.^[9][10][11] Bandaranayake's controversial impeachment drew much criticism and concern from within and outside of Sri Lanka.^[12] On 28 January 2015 she was reinstated and retired on 29 January, the next day.