(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) – Attorney General Dappula de Livera PC yesterday instructed the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) Director to obtain a warrant for the arrest of Embilipitiya High Court Judge Gihan Pilapitiya over controversial telephone conversations with former Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake.
The Co-ordinating Officer to the Attorney General, State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne told news media that the Attorney General has further instructed the police to produce High Court Judge Gihan Pilapitiya before Courts as the second suspect in the case.
The Attorney General maintained that there is reasonable suspicion to take legal action against High Court Judge Pilapitiya under Section 102, 113(a) and 190 for allegedly Conspiring to fabricate false evidence to use in a judicial proceeding, along with first suspect Ramanayake.
Ranjan Ramanayake was arrested and remanded till January 29 for committing offences which come under Article 111C(2) of the Constitution. It was in connection with the alleged interference with the functions of the Judges through telephone conversations.
The Attorney General further alleged that Ranjan Ramanayake could be further charged under Section 190 of the Penal Code for fabricating false evidence to be used in a judicial proceeding. The CCD has already recorded statements from retired High Court Judge Padmini N. Ranawaka, High Court Judge Gihan Pilapitiya and Magistrate Dammika Hemapala involved in telephone conversations with former Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake.
The prosecution maintained that Ranjan Ramanayake was arrested for committing offences which come under Article 111C(2) of the Constitution. It was in connection with the alleged interference with the functions of the Judges through telephone conversations. In terms of Article 111C(2) of the Constitution, if a person interferes with the judicial powers (without legal authority) or the functions of any judge, he/she is liable for an offence punishable by the High Court for a period of one year imprisonment term with fine. In addition, he/she will be disqualified for a period not exceeding seven years from the date of such a conviction from being an elector and from voting at a Referendum or at any election..
The alleged recording of conversations between Parliamentarian Ramanayake and several members of the judiciary including two sitting judges have recently gone viral on the Internet and mainstream media in the country.
