The parliamentary Select Committee report on Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake was presented to Parliament today by the Chairman of the PSC, Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa.

The Minister stated that the “comprehensive” report contains evidence put forward by 16 witnesses and that answers have only been provided for two out of the 14 charges, leveled against the Chief justice.

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa subsequently informed Parliament that the report will be taken up for debate in one month’s time.

Following vociferous objections from the opposition, the Speaker stated that he is prepared to even allocate 10 days for the debate.

It is reported that the debate will commence after January 08, 2013 and that at the end of the debate it will have to be passed with a simple majority.

The procedures of the PSC, in accordance with the Article 78 of the Standing orders of the Parliament  precludes taking any action after the resolution is submitted until the expiry of one month.

The four opposition members of the PSC yesterday withdrew from proceedings after its chairman refused to accept the conditions put forward by the opposition MPs.

They further alleged that the 11-member committee, dominated by ruling party MPs, does not follow formal procedures.

However, a group of government MPs in a press conference yesterday claimed that the withdrawal of the Chief Justice and opposition MPs from the PSC is a “tactical move”.