Lanka's top judge, ex-minister grilled by police in coup probe

Sri Lanka's chief justice and former foreign minister were today questioned by police over allegations that they tried to help former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to stage a coup to retain power after his defeat in the presidential polls.
Internal Security Minister John Amaratunga said that the police's Crime Investigation Department (CID) recorded the statements of top judge Mohan Peiris and former foreign minister G L Peiris following a complaint lodged by the new government regarding alleged coup attempt.
Foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera had recently filed a police complaint over an alleged coup attempt on January 9 when the results of the previous day's presidential election were being announced.

Rajapaksa and his close aides were accused of making an attempt to stay in power despite the shocking defeat by Maithripala Sirisena.
Rajapaksa's camp has denied the accusation that there was any attempt to stage a coup. The former President said he left his official residence long before the final results came to be announced.
He claimed that his supporters were being subjected to harassment since his defeat.

The new government alleged that Peiris, who is under growing pressure to stand down, had advised Rajapaksa to continue in office despite his defeat.
Since Sirisena's victory, Peiris has resisted calls to resign as the Chief Justice.

Rajapaksa appointed Peiris after impeaching the previous chief justice Shirani Bandaranayake.
Sirisena, who was sworn in on January 9, has vowed to restore Bandaranayake to the role.