Sri Lankan taxi drivers stage protest calling for chief justice to step down

Published November 20, 2014

Hundreds of taxi drivers have driven across Sri Lanka's capital to demand that the country's chief justice step down while parliament considers an impeachment bid against her.

About 500 drivers joined the protest Friday, driving their three-wheel vehicles displaying banners that said "Shame - Madam Excellency" across the main roads in Colombo.

Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake has been accused of misusing power and having unexplained wealth. She denies any wrongdoing.

Opposition parties and independent analysts say the impeachment attempt is aimed at stifling judiciary independence and concentrating power with President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Lalith Dharmasekera, chairman of drivers' union, said Bandaranayake should stop performing her duties as chief justice "until the probe ends."

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