The Jaffna Bar Association has written to Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressing "complete disbelief and shock" over the transfer of Jaffna High Court Judge A. G. Alexraja, while the Northern Province Governor's Office has denied any connection to the move.
In a letter dated 30 May, the Jaffna Bar Association said Judge Alexraja, who was appointed to the High Court of Jaffna on 22 April 2026, had been transferred to the Civil Appellate High Court in Badulla with effect from 31 May.
The association stated that the transfer, which came less than a month after he assumed office, "has led to speculations as to the presence of extraneous reasons for his transfer."
The Jaffna Bar Association further said it had reliably heard from its membership that the transfer may have been linked to interim orders issued by the judge against the Northern Province Governor N. Vethanayahan in certain writ petitions. The association noted that those orders were subsequently vacated and not extended.
According to the letter, the association also understood that the Governor had "written and/or spoke to certain authorities, including members of your government inviting their interference."
While affirming the Judicial Services Commission's authority to transfer judicial officers, the Jaffna Bar Association warned that "unexplained and sudden transfers of judicial officers and interference by members of the Executive branch of Government in such transfers leads to loss of public confidence in the judiciary."
The association urged Dissanayake to investigate the matter "as a matter of top priority" and requested an opportunity to meet him in person to discuss its concerns.
Responding to the allegations, the Northern Province Governor's Secretariat issued a media statement on 1 June stating that there was "no connection whatsoever" between the transfer of the Jaffna High Court judge and the Governor of the Northern Province.
The statement said it was being issued "to avoid unnecessary speculation that may arise in society regarding this matter and to clarify the true situation to the public."
The controversy surrounding Judge Alexraja's transfer has also drawn public attention due to reports on several high-profile cases handled during his brief tenure in Jaffna.
The transfer has become a point of discussion in the North, particularly because Judge Alexraja had developed a reputation for taking a firm stance against narcotics offences, organised criminal activity and other serious crimes during his brief tenure in Jaffna.
The move has also attracted scrutiny amid criticism from opposition politicians regarding the conduct of senior state officials appointed under the current administration. Independent MP Ramanathan Archchuna has on several occasions accused Northern administrative authorities, including the Governor and Government Agents, of acting in a manner favourable to the ruling regime and limiting opportunities for opposition representatives to raise concerns at official meetings and discussions.