Dec 15, Colombo: The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has today passed a resolution to refrain from officially welcoming any new Chief Justice appointed on the basis of a vacancy created by wrongful impeachment of Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake.

The BASL held a special general meeting this morning to discuss and decide on the next course of action over the impeachment process and the issues faced by the judiciary.

"Bar Association of Sri Lanka resolved that it will not welcome the successor of Bandaranayake in the wrongfully created vacancy consequent to the impeachment against her," BASL President Wijedasa Rajapaksha said.

A parliamentary select committee found the 54-year-old first female Chief Justice guilty of three charges on financial and personal misconduct.

BASL President has told the media after the meeting that three resolutions had been adopted at the BASL meeting.

Two other resolutions passed at the BASL meeting today urged the President to reconsider the impeachment motion, and if pursued with the impeachment, to formulate laws to remove higher court judges.

"In consideration of the speech made by the President on December 11, in which he stated the Parliamentary Special Committee report of the impeachment against the Chief Justice will be evaluated through an independent committee, we urge the President to reconsider the impeachment motion," the BASL said.

"In the event where the President, the Speaker or the MPs who are signatories to the impeachment motion decide to proceed with it further, we urge them to take necessary measures to formulate and enact procedural laws with regard to the removal of judges of the superior courts while guaranteeing a fair trial that adheres to principals of natural justice before further proceedings are taken on the said impeachment," the resolution said.