What compelled a Sri Lankan judge to resign?

COLOMBO (News 1st); Mullaitivu District Judge and Magistrate T. Saravanarajah has resigned from his posts and directed his letter of resignation to the Judicial Services Commission. 

Multiple legal battles that made headlines in the recent past were taken up in court in the presence of Justice T. Saravanarajah.

The case filed over the Kurundi Viharaya, as well as the preliminary examinations over the discovery of human skeletal remains from Kokkuthuduwai, took place in the presence of Justice T. Saravanarajah.

Several local newspapers had reported on the resignation of Justice T. Saravanarajah.

According to the Daily Mirror, Mullaitivu District Judge T. Saravanarajah has tendered his resignation from his posts due to threats on his life and a lot of stress.

The Daily Mirror added that his resignation letter was sent to the secretary of the Judicial Services Commission on September 23.

The BBC Sinhala Service also reported that Justice T. Saravanarajah has tendered his resignation from his posts due to threats on his life and a lot of stress.

The BBC Sinhala Service had made an inquiry from Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe in this regard.

The Minister had told the BBC Sinhala Service that Mullaitivu District Judge and Magistrate was named as a respondent in five separate cases filed with the Court of Appeal.

The Minister had also noted that the Mullaitivu District Judge and Magistrate had voluntarily met with the Attorney General for advise, and had done so as he was named as a respondent in the those cases.

The Justice Minister had also told the BBC Sinhala Service that if there was a threat to his life, as a judge, the Mullaitivu District Judge and Magistrate had the ability and power to issue the necessary warrants.

The Justice Minister had told the BBC Sinhala Service that upon making inquiries over the resignation of the Mullaitivu District Judge, it was revealed that Justice T. Saravanarajah had visited Colombo a week ago, and sold his car, and also met with the ambassadors of two western countries. 

Was the security detail provided to the judge reduced?

Police Spokesperson SSP Nihal Thalduwa said that the security provided to Mullaitivu District Judge and Magistrate T. Saravanarajah was never changed, and was maintained.

Justice T. Saravanarajah made headlines in recent months over the incident surrounding the Kurundi Viharaya.

What is this incident?

On the 4th of July 2023, Justice T. Saravanarajah engaged in an observation tour to the Kurundi Viharaya.

At the same time, a group accompanied MP Sarath Weerasekera to the premises.

Thereafter, on the 7th of July, the MP made a statement to Parliament criticising the conduct of the Magistrate.

Lawyers in the North and Easter engaged in a Harthal campaign on the 11th of July against the statements made by MP Weerasekera.

On the 25th of August, lawyers in the north and east once again protested against this statement.