President Ranil Wickremesinghe has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the abrupt resignation of Mullaitivu Magistrate T. Saravanaraja, who had been overseeing a critical case involving Mullaitivu Kurundi Vihara.
The Magistrate tendered his resignation, citing death threats as the reason, prompting the President’s intervention due to the lack of prior communication regarding the threats to the Police or the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake, in consultation with Minister of Justice Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe and Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles, is spearheading the inquiry.
It has been revealed that Magistrate Saravanaraja had not lodged any formal complaints about the alleged death threats before resigning. The President has emphasised the urgency of investigating the underlying causes of this incident.
Magistrate Saravanaraja, who went abroad on September 24, submitted his resignation letter to the JSC on September 23, indicating an immediate need for scrutiny into the circumstances surrounding his decision.
Upon seeking a clarification from the Attorney General (AG) regarding the Magistrate’s allegations, it was revealed that the Attorney General had discussed legal matters with the Magistrate in his office. The AG maintained that the discussion occurred in response to a request made through the JSC to represent the Magistrate in a case assigned to the Court of Appeal.
It has been reported to the President’s office that the Magistrate who resigned had close interactions with officials from several foreign Embassies.
In light of these developments, the President has instructed investigators to ascertain whether the reported death threats are genuine or if there might be other motives behind the Magistrate’s resignation.
