AG directs Police to submit copies of recordings between HC Judge Pilapitiya, Ramanayake

Thursday, 13 February 2020 01:49 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Audio, video recordings of 12 phone conversations directed to be submitted
Latest letter from AG comes as two senior officials clash over how to proceed with case against Pilapitiya
Acting IGP has ignored three directives from AG to arrest HC Judge
Police conclude probe into complaint by Pilapitiya that he was threatened by Ramanayake during 2015-2016
Says telephone conversations with UNP MP during the period related to ongoing police inquiry

By Chandani Kirinde

The Attorney General (AG) yesterday directed Acting IGP Chandana Wickramaratne to submit copies of audio and video recordings of 12 phone conversations between UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayake and interdicted High Court Judge Gihan Pilapitiya for consideration as the two senior officers continue to clash over how to best proceed with the case against Pilapitiya.

Dappula de Livera

In a letter addressed to Wickramaratne yesterday, which Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris sent on behalf of the AG, the Acting IGP was told to immediately make available the details of the telephone recordings which were obtained from mobile phone service providers for his perusal. The telephone calls in question were made between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2019. Copies of the letter were also sent to the Director of the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) and the Government Analyst.

This was the fourth letter sent by the AG to the Acting IGP since 23 January pertaining to the case involving Pilapitiya. In earlier letters, the AG directed the Police to arrest the High Court judge and produce him in Court to face charges under the penal code for conspiring with Ramanayake to fabricate false evidence. After the first letter from the AG was sent to the Acting IGP on 23 January, Wickramaratne appointed a five-member committee to study the instructions issued by the AG and advise him. The committee is yet to submit its report but another investigation, which got underway to probe a complaint made by Pilapitiya claiming that he was threatened by the UNP MP during the 2015-2016 period, has concluded its findings. The High Court judge had lodged a complaint with the Acting IGP on 9 January 2020 stating that Ramanayake had threatened him between 2015 and 2016 or thereabout and that a police inquiry had been held in this regard. Wickramaratne had appointed Senior DIG T.M.W.D. Tennakoon to investigate Pilapitiya’s complaint.

Tennakoon had recorded the evidence of several persons, including the complainant, and it was found that an inquiry had been held by the Police regarding the complaint by Pilapitiya lodged during that period that he had been threatened by the UNP MP and that he had conducted the telephone conversation with Ramanayake on the advice of the Police, according to a document related to the inquiry seen by the Daily FT.

Ramanayake, who is facing charges of interfering with the work of the Judiciary, has been in remand since 15 January.