Sri Lanka's chief justice has denied all allegations of financial wrongdoing made against her by ruling party members who are trying to have her removed from office.

Shirani Bandaranayake's lawyers said their client can easily refute all the accusations.

Lawmakers from President Mahinda Rajapakse's party had wanted the chief justice to step aside during the impeachment process, but she has refused.

The impeachment motion said Chief Justice Bandaranayake's actions have “plunged the Supreme Court and the office of the chief justice into disrepute.”

The accusations against her include a charge that she did not declare the details of several bank accounts.

Analysts say the impeachment motion is a politically motivated attempt to stifle the judiciary's independence, part of a government effort to concentrate power in the hands of President Rajapaksa.