The resignation of Sri Lankan Judge T. Saravanaraja raises serious questions about the independence of the judiciary in Sri Lanka, the Jurist Website said.
In the resignation letter, addressed to the Secretary of Sri Lanka’s Judicial Services Commission, Judge Saravanaraja cited the “threat of my life and … [a] lot of stress” as the reasons for his decision to step down.
Saravanaraja was a judge in the Mullaitivu District. Notably, Saravanaraja had recently presided over two significant cases, the website said.
“The first case involved a dispute over a religious site, Kurunthamalai. Saravanaraja ordered the removal of recently erected structures, including an unlawfully constructed Buddhist shrine situated atop Kurunthamalai.
“The second case pertained to the Sri Lankan government’s stifling of a memorial event honoring a deceased member of the LTTE. Additionally, in July 2023, Saravanaraja ordered excavations at a mass grave site in Kokkuthoduvai, adding to the growing list of sensitive issues in the region.
“Saravanaraja alleged that a senior official from the Attorney General’s Department invited him to his office on September 21 and, during that meeting, compelled him to reverse his order in the Kurunthurmalai case.
“Furthermore, Saravanaraja claimed that Sri Lankan Members of Parliament Sarath Weerasekera and other politicians threatened his life.
“The judge also said that his police protection presence had been reduced while intelligence officers continued to surveil him. Lastly, the judge stated that two cases were filed against him personally in Sri Lanka’s Court of Appeals in connection to his decision on the Kurunthamalai case,” the Jurist said.
