A heated exchange took place between visiting Canadian Senator Hugh Segal and External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L Peiris over Sri Lanka’s impeachment of the Chief Justice, the Daily Mirror reported.
Segal was being hosted by Peiris in delivering a guest at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute, when in response to a journalist question, he criticised the impeachment.
Pointing to how the Canadian Federal Court and the Supreme Court had given many rulings against the Canadian Government, Segal said: “We [the government] have suffered as a matter from our courts but we didn’t impeach the Chief Justice as a result.”
In his closing remarks Peiris lashed out at Mr. Segal, saying:
“I take exception to this remark which was the only unwarranted and inappropriate remark made. Had I not been your host I would have reacted more sharply. I would not have dreamt of making such a remark if I were visiting your country. I am appalled and taken aback by it because there is no nexus in this.”
Minister Peiris’ stance on the impeachment is especially interesting as he is a Professor of constitutional law.
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