Sri Lankan governing party MPs have begun moves to impeach Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake. A parliamentary motion to impeach Ms Bandaranayake was submitted today, officials say. Impeachment is the only Constitutional way to remove a sitting chief justice.

Correspondents say the move is the latest manifestation of tension between the government and the judiciary, which has made some rulings unfavourable to it in recent months.

Ms Bandaranayake was appointed Sri Lanka's first woman chief justice last year. President Mahinda Rajapakse's UPFA party has enough seats for the impeachment to succeed, but the process could take months

It is unclear what the precise charges against Ms Bandaranayake are, but the initial proposal has received the approval of the required number of lawmakers.