Chief Justice Mohan Peiris has informed to Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe of his intention to resign from the CJ post, Minister Rajith Senarathne said at a press conference held in Colombo, this afternoon.

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) was also mounting pressure on the Chief Justice to resign and make way for the re-instatement of his impeached and sacked predecessor, Shirani Bandaranayake.

The BASL expressed concerns over allegations that the CJ of had been present at the former President’s house on 9 January, while the results of the Presidential polls were being released.

The BASL alleged that Pieris was discussing with the former President ways and means of annulling the result, when it was clear that the  former President was losing the Presidential election.

Minister Mangala Samaraweera has also lodged a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with the alleged coup attempt in which he says that “It has been brought to our notice that in the wee hours of 9 January there has been a serious attempt by former President MAhinda Rajapaksa, and brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Chief Justice Mohan Peiris, G.L. Peiris and Udaya Gammanpila have been discussing and conspiring to subvert the due process of law when the results of the Persidentail election were becoming known, which were not favorable to one of the candidates, namely Mahinda Rajapaksa. The discussions were based around an attempt to impose a state emergency under the Public Security Ordinance…”