University of Jaffna Teachers’ Association on resignation of Judge Saravanarajah

• The University of Jaffna Teachers’ Association yesterday issued the following statement on the resignation of Mullaitivu District Court Judge T. Saravanarajah

Judge T. Saravanarajah, District Court Judge of Mullaitivu, has resigned from all his positions in the judicial system and fled the country amidst threats to his life and political pressure from the top. This development has caused shock and despair among those who value justice and democracy. It also demonstrates the extent to which the independence of Sri Lanka’s judicial system has been undermined. 

Judge Saravanarajah openly condemned the illegal nature of the archaeological excavation carried out in Kurunthurmalai with the Sinhala-Buddhist nationalist agenda and issued rulings that are considered fair. He also ruled in defence of people’s right to memorialisation, whenever there were attempts to abort commemoration events organised by the Tamil community. Recently, extreme Sinhala nationalist forces in the south launched a hate campaign and issued threats against this judge who is widely perceived as a person of integrity and great courage. Not so long ago, Sarath Weerasekara, Member of Parliament representing the Colombo district, made vituperative statements against the judge. 

Judge Saravanarajah has mentioned in his letter of resignation the threats on his life and the pressure he faced. It is reported in the media that the Attorney General summoned Judge Saravanarajah to his office on 21 September 2023 and, in the guise of advising the judge, exerted pressure on him to change his ruling in the Kurnthurmalai issue. If a judge who carried out his responsibilities in line with the law of the land is facing such an unsettling, dangerous situation, what is the predicament of the minority communities who face and resist racism on a daily basis? 

The University of Jaffna Teachers’ Association strongly condemns the intimidation and the hate campaign against Judge Saravanarajah and the pressure applied on him to prevent him from discharging his responsibilities in an independent manner. The Association demands that all those who are involved in the hate campaigns and the acts of interference and intimidation against the judge be held accountable. 

The Association notes with dismay that the judicial system in the north-east of Sri Lanka is afflicted with intimidation and political interference today. The Sinhala-Buddhist agenda of the State is the root cause of the threats that the judges who serve the courts in the north-east are subjected to. Sinhalising and Buddhisising this region where the Tamil and Muslim communities form the majority population and blocking memorialisation events of the Tamil community are central to this agenda. Judges and administrators attached to the public sector who refuse to support or connive with this agenda face intimidation and come under heavy political duress. 

It is important to recognise that as long as Sinhala-Buddhist chauvinism reigns supreme, the independence of the judicial system and the administrative services in the north-east will be under threat.

 It is vital that progressive forces on the island rally together across ethnic, religious and regional divides against this chauvinism and work towards ensuring the equal coexistence of all communities. 

At a time when the country is faced with a severe economic crisis, there are attempts by the present Government and chauvinistic groups to use racism to deflect attention away from the pressing day-to-day problems that the people are facing. Targeting Judge Saravanarajah is a part of this racist project. The citizens of this country should join hands to defeat racist groups and the present regime which has barely shown any concern for the welfare of the people. 

The University of Jaffna Teachers’ Association urges that 

a) the Government immediately create the conditions necessary for Judge Saravanarajah to return to his position and carry out his responsibilities in an independent manner; 

b) the independence of judiciary is ensured;

c) there be an immediate end to the intimidation and political pressure that the judges and the judiciary in the Northern and Eastern Provinces face today;

d) and that Sinhala-Buddhist chauvinism, which has caused all these developments, is defeated. 

The University of Jaffna Teachers’ Association calls upon the people of the country to unite to work towards these goals.