The Judicial Service Commission has taken steps to suspend the duties of Thilina Gamage, who served as the District Judge and Magistrate of Moratuwa.
This suspension was carried out due to an ongoing investigation by the Judicial Service Commission concerning allegations of misconduct against him.
The Commission formally notified the Magistrate in writing yesterday (01 Aug), requesting a response within 21 days.
The investigation focuses on his involvement in an elephant trafficking incident. In June, the Judicial Service Commission filed a charge sheet against Thilina Gamage.
He was accused of committing an offence under the Public Property Act by possessing a baby elephant named “Sakura” using a fraudulently obtained permit. The Attorney General had filed a case against him under 25 indictments.
The Criminal Investigation Department had launched an investigation regarding the illegal possession of the baby elephant, and in May 2015, the elephant was handed back to the Department of Wildlife Conservation.
Subsequently, in May 2016, the Judicial Service Commission suspended Thilina Gamage’s duties while he was serving as the Additional Magistrate of Colombo.
On November 7, 2019, indictments were filed before Colombo High Court Judge Gihan Kulatunga against Thilina Gamage, Chandraratna Bandara Yatawara, and two others.
However, on December 16, 2021, the Attorney General’s Department dropped the charges against Thilina Gamage due to insufficient evidence. (Newswire)
