-Report by Sampath Dillimuni
(Lanka-e-News -02.Jan.2025, 11.00 PM) The Judicial Services Commission has immediately transferred Colombo Chief Magistrate Thilina Gamage to the Moratuwa District and Magistrate’s Court. This decision has garnered significant public attention, reportedly stemming from various allegations and recent controversies surrounding his conduct.
Salochana Gamage, a former Provincial Councilor and brother of Thilina Gamage, along with another individual, was arrested on suspicion of accepting a bribe of Rs. 9 million from businessman Chaminda Tushara Warnasuriya. This was in exchange for facilitating compensation for a government-acquired property. The suspects are currently in remand custody.
When this case came before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court, over which Thilina Gamage presided, questions arose about judicial transparency. The case was eventually heard before Additional Magistrate Bandara Ilangasinghe, a known associate of Gamage. However, since Thilina Gamage is the Chief Magistrate overseeing Courts No. 1 to 8, all court operations function under his authority, raising concerns about impartiality.
Thilina Gamage, aware of the potential fallout, requested the Judicial Services Commission to transfer his brother’s bribery case to another court, citing a “conflict of interest.” However, it became evident that this request was insufficient to conceal the broader controversies involving his family.
Social media and investigative reports have alleged that Thilina Gamage granted special legal concessions to two high-profile individuals:
1. Thilini Priyamali, implicated in multiple financial frauds.
2. “Harak Kata”, a notorious drug trafficker.
It is reported that Rakitha Rajapakshe, the son of former Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, represented Harak Kata in court. Allegedly, Thilina Gamage’s connections with Rakitha influenced the granting of undue legal privileges to the drug trafficker.
Thilina Gamage’s judicial career has been marred by allegations of corruption. During the previous Yahapalana government, he was suspended for fabricating documents and misusing state resources. However, he was reinstated through the intervention of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Before entering the judiciary, Gamage held a politically-appointed chairmanship at a state institution, where he was also accused of misconduct. Despite these controversies, he is now the senior-most Chief Magistrate in Colombo and is reportedly set for a promotion to the High Court soon.
The bribery allegations involving Salochana Gamage and the misuse of judicial power by Thilina Gamage have significantly eroded public trust in the judiciary. Many believe granting High Court responsibilities to a magistrate with such allegations undermines justice and transparency in Sri Lanka.
Lanka e News asserts that Thilina Gamage’s past and present actions pose a severe threat to the credibility and integrity of the country’s judicial system.
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by (2025-01-02 22:18:06)
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