• Cites not being informed of alleged death threats, stress 
• JSC probe finds ex-Judge met AG in latter’s chamber for a consultation per JSC instructions concerning cases where Saravanarajah was made respondent in CoA cases  
• Ex-Judge ordered passport via US-registered mobile phone; met 2 diplomats prior to flying overseas  
• Wijeyadasa notes probe ongoing to ascertain if attempt to defame Judiciary was in motion 

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has stated that former Mullaitivu District Judge T. Saravanarajah – who stepped down over alleged death threats and mental stress – had never informed either the JSC or his colleagues about such allegations, and therefore the JSC is yet to accept his resignation.

Presenting the report of the investigation carried out by the JSC into the resignation of Saravanarajah, the Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs, and Constitutional Reforms, President’s Counsel (PC) Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe yesterday (18) told Parliament that while Saravanarajah had requested the JSC to grant him leave for one week in order to visit Tamil Nadu, he had never informed them regarding any kind of threat or mental stress.

Speaking further, the Minister said that none of his (Saravanarajah’s) closest colleagues in the Mullaitivu District Court – who were interrogated by the group of JSC officials who carried out the investigation – have ever been informed of such alleged death threats. 

Responding to the allegations raised by various parties that Attorney General (AG) Sanjay Rajaratnam PC had allegedly summoned him (Saravanarajah) into his chamber and requested him to change his controversial judgment on the Kurundimale Vihara, the Minister, who read an excerpt of the JSC report, said that Saravanarajah had met with the AG in order to consult him on seeking his support for some cases being heard before the Court of Appeal (CoA) in which he (Saravanarajah) has been named as a respondent, as per the instructions received by the JSC.

He also said that Saravanarajah had been in Colombo while he was tendering his resignation to the JSC, and had ordered his passport through a mobile phone registered in the United States (US). He also claimed that Saravanarajah had met with two diplomats before tendering his resignation to the JSC. 

The Minster said that the JSC is yet to accept his resignation, and that further investigations are being carried out to ascertain as to whether this is an attempt to defame the country’s judicial system.

On 23 September, Saravanarajah submitted his resignation from all judicial positions to the Secretary of the JSC, attributing his resignation to recent death threats received by him following certain verdicts he had delivered pertaining to various controversial and sensitive cases. Saravanarajah is believed to have flown overseas after having submitted his letter of resignation.