By A second vacancy in the Supreme Court is due next week when Justice Priyantha Jayawardene retires amid the ongoing dispute between the Constitutional Council and the Executive over the filling of a vacancy in the court. On November 15, last year, Justice Buweneka Aluwihare retired from the court.
Several promotions in the judiciary are being held up due to the Constitutional Council refusing to confirm the appointment of Court of Appeal President Bandula Karunaratne to the Supreme Court. Justice Karunaratne’s name was proposed to the Supreme Court by President Ranil Wickremesinghe on the recommendation of Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya.
The Court of Appeal already has two vacancies following the retirement of Justice Prasanna de Alwis and Justice Pradeep Keerthisinha.
In May, Justice D.N. Samarakoon and Kehma Swarnadhipathi are also due to retire from service.
As a result of the two vacancies in the Court of Appeal, only nine of the 10 courtrooms operate, thereby leading to a reduction in the cases being taken up.
Meanwhile, High Court judges Gihan Kulatunga and Damith Thotawatta, and Deputy Solicitor General Mahen Gopallawa are due to be nominated to fill the two vacancies in the Court of Appeal. But the names have not been submitted to the Constitutional Council yet. At least 10 vacancies also exist in the High Court
