Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles has ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chandana D. Wickramaratne and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to conduct a complete and comprehensive investigation into the resignation of Mullaitivu District Judge and Magistrate T. Saravanarajah, and the factors and events that led to it and his departure from the country.
Through a letter dated 23 September 2023, addressed to the Secretary of the Judicial Services Commission (JSC), Saravanarajah had tendered his resignation from a range of posts that he had held - District Judge, Magistrate, Family Court Judge, Primary Court Judge, Small Claims Court Judge, and Juveniles Court Judge - the letter read, due to threats to his life and a lot of stress. These death threats are following certain verdicts he had delivered pertaining to various controversial and sensitive cases. Sarvanarajah is believed to have flown overseas after having submitted his letter of resignation.
An official of the Public Security Ministry yesterday (2) told The Daily Morning that Alles had ordered Wickramaratne and the CID to carry out a complete investigation into the resignation and migration of Saravanarajah, the factors that led to it, and the alleged threats that he had faced.
Reports circulating on social media and online platforms read that he (Saravanarajah) had resigned and left the country, and that he had received death threats in connection with the lawsuit pertaining to the Kurundumale Viharaya (Kurundi Temple) in Mullaitivu. There are also reports to the effect that the State Intelligence Service had been keeping surveillance on him, and that his security had been reduced.
The incident has led to controversy over the past few days, and several parties have therefore called on the Government for an impartial and transparent investigation into the same, noting that it is crucial to ascertain the veracity of these threats. In an attempt to demand such, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) stated that they would reach out to the Chief Justice, President's Counsel Jayantha Jayasuriya, and Alles and Wickramaratne. Furthermore, the BASL, in its statement, said that it believes that safeguarding the Judiciary is essential for the preservation of the rule of law and the protection of the fundamental rights of all citizens.