Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa nominated the government’s senior legal advisor Mohan Peiris as a replacement for the impeached chief justice, his spokesman said on Tuesday.
Peiris is scheduled to take his oath of office shortly after a parliamentary panel confirms his appointment around midday (Sri Lankan time), spokesman Mohan Samaranayake said.
“I can confirm now that Mohan Peiris will be the new chief justice,” Samaranayake said. “Immediately after the affirmation from parliament, he will take his oaths.”
Peiris retired two years ago as attorney general, but has since been the senior legal advisor to the cabinet in addition to being a key defender of Sri Lanka’s record at UN rights meetings.
Peiris’ appointment comes after Rajapaksa approved Shirani Bandaranayake’s dismissal on Sunday, two days after lawmakers voted for her impeachment.
Judges have declared the impeachment of Bandaranayake, the first woman chief justice, to be illegal and unconstitutional.