The Hon. Nalinda Jayatissa

¶ 01 Madam Deputy Chairperson of Committees, I was not going to intervene in this, but I am compelled to speak because this is a blatant attempt to mislead Parliament and an insult to the Judicial Service Commission and the judiciary. Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara claimed to table a certain document and, from that side, to assert that what he said, the contents of that document, are correct. I will refer to the very document he tabled.

¶ 02 As of 2024.12.20, the Magistrate of Kalutara is Mrs. Nilupuli Lankapura. Thereafter, that Magistrate is transferred to the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court. Subsequently, she receives a promotion as a High Court Judge.

¶ 03 Please wait a moment.

¶ 04 Now, this is the document he produced. As of 2025.02.21, the Kalutara Magistrate is Mrs. A.D. Chathurika de Silva. Then what did he try to say? That due to a judgment delivered by Magistrate Chathurika de Silva, she was transferred to the Kesbewa Court — that the Government exerted political pressure, interfered with the judiciary, and within less than a year transferred a Magistrate from Kalutara to Kesbewa. That was the basis of his argument to claim the Government is pressuring the judiciary and transferring judges.

¶ 05 However, Magistrate Chathurika de Silva has not made such a judicial order. There is no such order. I will read the order dated 2025.02.21:

¶ 06 “At this stage, it is stated on behalf of the aggrieved party that they will file written submissions regarding their position. Accordingly, upon considering the said written submissions and the schedule of documents annexed to the plaint, I will, thereafter, make an appropriate order.”

¶ 07 No other order was given. There was no order to take these persons into custody and produce them in court.

¶ 08 Therefore, the entire set of facts has been distorted, pointing fingers at the Judicial Service Commission as well. Next, they attempt to say that the Government, at its whim, transfers judicial officers. But Magistrate Chathurika de Silva goes to Kesbewa at one time, and Mrs. Nilupuli Lankapura receives a transfer to another court and then proceeds to the High Court at another time. These two timelines have been conflated to weave a story and allege Government interference in the judiciary. This is entirely mixed up. Therefore, please accept that this is wrong. If we had not obtained this document, we would have been compelled to accept what he showed as correct.

¶ 09 To safeguard the credibility of Parliament, the Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara could say a few words such as, “Regarding Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe, here is the Magistrate who delivered the order; the Government interfered and got her transferred through the Judicial Service Commission.” If he can, let him say that now. If he can, say it now.

¶ 10 The Kalutara Magistrate became a Magistrate at the Colombo Fort Court and then went to the High Court. Correct? She was not transferred from Kalutara to Kesbewa. This is a complete misrepresentation. Please acknowledge that a mistake was made. Then this matter ends there. Admit it, Hon. Dayasiri. No, there is no issue. Just acknowledge you presented inaccurate information.