A group of lawyers has requested Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya not to list any action instituted by the police against the peaceful protesters at the Galle Face Green before Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage.
The petition that received 100 signatures from lawyers was handed over to the Secretary of Judicial Service Commission requesting the Chief Justice that any action instituted by the police against the protestors at Galle Face Green should not be listed before Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage.
The lawyers have requested the Chief justice to have such a case taken up before the Chief Magistrate of Colombo.
The petition stated that the integrity and impartiality of the Magistrate Thilina Gamage are in question in the public domain. The petition further states that there would be severe unrest and chaos and even possible bloodshed among the protesters if any adverse order was made against the peaceful protestors in the vicinity of the Galle face green.
“As your Lordships is aware the Incumbent Magistrate of the Fort Magistrate is Hon Thilina Gamage who is recently reinstated by the Judicial Service Commission after several years of interdiction. It was a known fact that the said Magistrate had a close political affiliation with the present regime before he assumed duties as a Judicial Officer. His brother is a member of the western provincial council and he is a key figure of the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) and a close ally of Dinesh Gunawardena, the Minister of Education,” the petition added.
The petition further added that it was widely reported with credible information that the police department is initiating an action in the Fort Magistrate’s Court to get an order to suppress and disperse the peaceful protest, which right has been guaranteed by the constitution of the republic.
