Story
On the 13th January 2013, Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake, the 43rd Chief Justice of Sri Lanka was removed from her office by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, following a controversial impeachment process in Parliament. While the preceding 2 months were tumultuous in itself, the narrative of what transpired was largely dictated by the media and the Government.
Natural Justice is a Documentary Short which visits those events through the eyes of the now retired Chief Justice. In her first and only candid interview, 6 years on, Natural Justice explores the life of the first woman Chief Justice of Sri Lanka as she faces off against an autocratic President with unfettered power.
On the 13th January 2013, Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake, the 43rd Chief Justice of Sri Lanka was removed from her office by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, following a controversial impeachment process in Parliament. While the preceding 2 months were tumultuous in itself, the narrative of what transpired was largely dictated by the media and the Government.
Natural Justice is a Documentary Short which visits those events through the eyes of the now retired Chief Justice. In her first and only candid interview, 6 years on, Natural Justice explores the life of the first woman Chief Justice of Sri Lanka as she faces off against an autocratic President with unfettered power.
About Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake
Born in 1958, Dr. Shirani Anshumala Bandaranayake was the first woman Judge of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka and its first woman Chief Justice, in its 225 year history.
Prior to being appointed as a Judge in 1996, Dr. Bandaranayake held numerous roles in academia, including Associate Professor of Law and as the Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Colombo. Throughout her 32 year career at the University and the Judiciary, Dr. Bandaranayake has advocated for equal opportunity, a better representative Government and protection of human rights.
In 2012, the Government led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa sought to oust Dr. Bandaranayake, citing 14 allegations of misconduct. While the allegations were denied by Dr. Bandaranayake and the Government failed to prove them conclusively; amidst both local and international backlash, the Government voted to impeach Dr. Bandaranayake sans-due process.
Dr. Bandaranayake lives in Colombo, Sri Lanka with her husband Pradeepa and son Shaveen.