The judicial landscape of Sri Lanka turns uneasy after the unexpected resignation and reported flight of Judge T. Saravanaraja. Not only has his departure ignited profound concerns, but his resignation letter, which surfaced online recently, cites threats to his life and unprecedented stress levels. Judge Saravanaraja formerly presided over the Mullaitivu district in Sri Lanka’s Northern province.
Judge Saravanaraja has been involved in a couple of high-profile cases recently. One was a religious site dispute between the majority Sinhala Buddhist community and Hindu worshippers at Kurunthurmalai, an ancient Tamil temple. The verdict, which saw the removal of a Buddhist shrine illegally situated atop the temple’s land, did not sit well with the majority Sinhala Buddhist community. The other was the Sri Lankan government’s suppression of a memorial event for a deceased Tamil separatist rebel.
Saravanaraja’s resignation throws light on the questionable state of judicial independence in Sri Lanka. Accompanying his resignation were allegations that he was compelled by the Attorney General to overturn his order in the Kurunthurmalai case. He further alleges that his life has been threatened by various members of the Sri Lankan Parliament and Sinhala Buddhist community. Reduction in police protection and ongoing surveillance were additional matters outlined in his revelation which have stirred the legal fraternity and international observers alike.
Former President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, Saliya Pieris has joined the conversation, citing increased threats to Supreme Court Judges and Parliamentary criticisms of specific cases as evidence of compromising judicial independence in Sri Lanka.
The abrupt departure of Judge Saravanaraja, therefore, exposes a worrying chapter for Sri Lanka’s judicial system and its prided independence, necessitating an urgent examination of the circumstances leading to his resignation.