Jan 14, Colombo: Opposition Leader of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremasinghe has decided not to attend the Parliamentary Council that is to meet tomorrow to approve the nomination of the next Chief Justice.

Wickremasinghe has continuously stated that the impeachment procedure followed in removing the Chief Justice was not in line with the Constitution.

He has told the media that the main opposition United National Party (UNP) would support any action taken by the lawyers and judges against the removal of Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake.

The UNP has boycotted the Council, which was formed under the 18th Amendment to the constitution, in protest of the repeal of the 17th Amendment that had a Constitutional Council of independent persons to select nominees for independent commissions.

The Parliamentary Council, chaired by the speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, comprises Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe, ruling party UPFA parliamentarian A.H.M. Azwer, and United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian D.M. Swaminathan.

Meanwhile, media reports said the name of former Attorney General Mohan Peiris has been nominated by the President as the next Chief Justice.