Mullaitivu District Judge T. Saravanarajah has resigned from his posts and fled the island due to death threats and mounting pressure from the Sri Lankan government.
The threats and pressure stem principally from his involvement in the contentious Kurunthurmalai archaeological site cases. Judge Saravanarajah revealed that various individuals in government had been exerting immense pressure on him to alter his judgements in these cases. He specifically mentioned the threats made by MP Sarath Weerasekara during parliamentary debates and other public forums.
In recent times, the security provided for the judge was significantly reduced, and he found himself under surveillance by military intelligence officers. Moreover, the Attorney General summoned Judge Saravanarajah on September 21st, where he felt pressured to change his judgements related to the ongoing Kurunthurmalai archaeological site cases.
This relentless pressure led to his resignation from his position as a Magistrate court judge on September 23rd. Fearing for his own and his family's safety, he subsequently fled the country. These developments have raised concerns about the state of judicial independence and security for judges in the North-East.
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