The judicial sector has been thrown into turmoil following a series of transfers and appointments made by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), raising concerns over political interference in the country’s legal system.
According to reports, several senior and additional magistrates have been reassigned effective August 25, 2025. Colombo Chief Magistrate B.J.T.L. Jayasinghe, ranked 17th in seniority, has been transferred as Mahara District Judge, while Y.R.B. Nelumdeniya, the Kesbewa District Judge and 26th in seniority, has been moved to Hambantota as District Judge.
In the lower ranks, further changes have been made. Mount Lavinia Magistrate A.D.C.C. Silva (48th in seniority) has been appointed as Kesbewa District Judge. Colombo Additional Magistrate K.P.S. Harshan (51st in seniority) has been named Embilipitiya District Judge, while Colombo Additional Magistrate L.M. Ratnayake (65th in seniority) has been transferred to Wellawaya as District Judge.
Meanwhile, Judge Asanka Bodaragama, ranked 58th in seniority, has been appointed as the new Colombo Chief Magistrate. Reports highlight that he previously served as a junior lawyer under incumbent Justice Minister Harsha Nanayakkara, a connection that has drawn attention given the prominence of the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court, which hears a significant number of high-profile cases.
Further changes include the appointment of Judge Pasan Amarasekara from Hulftsdorp Magistrate’s Court No. 3 as the new Mount Lavinia Magistrate. Legal circles have voiced concern that this move may affect ongoing cases involving powerful political figures such as Cabinet Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe, Deputy Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe, Kaduwela Mayor Ranjan Jayalal, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security.
It has also been reported that the Ampara Magistrate has been given charge of the highly sensitive Kotuwa Magistrate’s Court. However, she has formally notified the JSC that she lacks adequate experience for the position, further fueling questions about the motivations behind the appointment.
These developments have led to strong suspicion that the transfers and appointments are politically motivated, threatening the independence of the judiciary and undermining public trust in the rule of law.
When contacted, senior government officials denied any involvement, stressing that the government had no connection to the changes and insisting that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake was unaware of the decisions.
Nevertheless, critics argue that the government must act swiftly. They have called on the President to intervene immediately to safeguard both public confidence in the judiciary and the credibility of his administration in the face of growing skepticism.
