Former Chief Justice of India J.S. Verma, who was to arrive in Colombo late on Friday heading an international fact-finding mission to assess the legal issues involved in the impeachment of Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, has cancelled his visit.

“I have decided to cancel,” he said when The Hindu contacted him over phone. On speculation that his Sri Lankan visa was revoked, he said there was no such issue.

The delegation has been constituted by the International Bar Association, and was mandated to investigate and report on Parliament’s actions on the impeachment issue, and if there were anomalies and transgressions.

However, it was reported on Friday that the high level delegation from the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) has been forced to postpone a planned visit to Colombo after a last minute withdrawal of permission to enter the country.

The delegation consisting of distinguished jurists and led by former Indian Chief Justice J.S. Verma, was scheduled to arrive in Colombo on 1 February for a 10 day visit, to assess the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary after a last minute withdrawal of permission to enter the country.

“A visa had been issued to one member of the delegation on 18th January 2013 and was revoked on 29th January 2013, while approval to enter the country was suspended in the cases of other delegates on 29th and 30th January 2013,” the IBAHRI press office said.

The IBAHRI has expressed its serious concern to the Sri Lankan High Commission in London regarding the revocation and suspension of entry approval for its high-level delegates and looks forward to working together with the relevant authorities in ensuring a speedy and satisfactory resolution.