Judicial Service Commission (JSC) Secretary Manjula Tillekaratne said yesterday there was a danger to the security of all of them and their families beginning from the person holding the highest position in the judicial system.
“A situation has arisen where there is a danger to the security of all of us and our families beginning from the person holding the highest position in the judicial system,” Mr. Tillekaratne said.
Denying the allegations levelled against him and the JSC, he said the media statement issued by him on September 18 might have led to a mudslinging campaign against him and the JSC.
“I absolutely reject the malicious and baseless allegations levelled against me and the Judicial Services Commission these days. We see the only reason for this malicious mudslinging campaign was the media statement issued by me on the directions of the Judicial Services Commission,” Mr. Tillekaratne said.
He had earlier issued a media statement criticising the alleged intervention in the judiciary by the executive.
It was also reported that on Wednesday the Cabinet on Wednesday had discussed the possibility of initiating disciplinary action against the JSC Secretary over a complaint.
Meanwhile, the Lawyers Association attached to the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court yesterday staged a protest at Hulftsdorp over the mudslinging campaign against the JSC secretary.
A large number of lawyers who participated in the protest urged the authorities not to interfere in the judiciary saying it could lead to the end of democracy in Sri Lanka.
Association’s Secretary Pradeep Gamage said the Lawyers Association decided to engage in this protest with the objective of safeguarding the independence of the judiciary. “Safeguarding the independence of the judiciary is one of the key responsibilities of the lawyers. So, we request the authorities not to interfere with the judiciary,” Attorney-at-Law Gamage said.
Attorney-at-law Nelson de Silva expressing his views said interference in the judiciary could be considered as the end of democracy. He said JSC secretary Manjula Tillekaratne had rendered yeoman service to the country as the JSC Secretary and as a Magistrate. (Lakmal Sooriyagoda)
DM