The Judicial Service Commission has suspended Thilina Gamage, who served as the Moratuwa District Judge and Magistrate.
The Judicial Service Commission is currently investigating the allegations of misconduct against him. The Judicial Service Commission has informed the magistrate in writing to provide evidence within 21 days regarding the allegations against him. It is reported that this suspension has been implemented as a result.
Judge Thilina Gamage has been accused of dealing with elephant trafficking, and the Judicial Service Commission had filed a charge sheet against him last June.
During the Yahapalana government, Judge Thilina Gamage was accused of illegally keeping a elephant calf named “Sakura” using a fake license. The elephant calf, which was allegedly in the possession of Judge Gamage along with several other such elephant calves, was returned to the Department of Wildlife in May 2015.
In connection with this incident, the Judicial Service Commission suspended Thilina Gamage, who was then an Additional Magistrate of Colombo, in May 2016 and filed a case under the Public Interest Litigation Act.
However, Thilina Gamage was acquitted of the charges on 16 December 2021 due to insufficient evidence presented by the Attorney General’s Department.