• Will hand over letters to IGP and Public Sec. Min. seeking inquiry: Nawaratna

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) is to reach out to Chief Justice, President's Counsel (PC) Jayantha Jayasuriya, Public Security Minister Tiran Alles, and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chandana D. Wickramaratne today (2 October) regarding the allegations that surround the resignation of Mullaitivu District Judge and Magistrate T. Saravanarajah, and to seek a transparent investigation into the incident, The Daily Morning learns.

In a letter dated 23 September addressed to the Judicial Services Commission (JSC), Saravanarajah had tendered his resignation from a range of posts that he had held – viz. the posts of district judge, magistrate, family court judge, primary court judge, small claims court judge, and juvenile court judge – the letter read, due to threats to his life and mental stress.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (1 October), BASL President attorney Kaushalya Nawaratna said that they had been given an appointment at 9.30 a.m. today to meet Jayasuriya to discuss the matter. In addition, he said that they would hand over letters to Alles and Wickramaratne, seeking a thorough investigation into the factors that led to the Magistrate’s resignation, and for a report to be submitted to the public as quickly as possible.

"We have got to look into these actions in the background where the Judge/Magistrate had alleged that his life was under threat, and there are so many news items, especially on social media platforms, that the state intelligence services were keeping surveillance on him. There is also an allegation that his security was reduced. All these matters are of extreme importance as far as the entire legal fraternity is concerned. We want to have these allegations verified. In case they are proven to be true, it is of a serious nature with regard to the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law," he added.

Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe PC and Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles were not available for comment.

Reports circulating on social media and online platforms read that Saravanarajah had resigned and left the country, and that he had received death threats in connection with the lawsuit pertaining to the Kurundimale Vihara (Kurundi Temple) in Mullaitivu.

Following his resignation, President Ranil Wickremesinghe had directed President's Secretary Saman Ekanayake to launch an immediate and comprehensive investigation into the matter. The directive is said to have stemmed from the fact that the Judge/Magistrate had, it is reported, resigned without formally informing the Police or the JSC about the alleged death threats that he had received.