Former Additional Magistrate Thilina Gamage was once again granted bail by the Colombo High Court today, for allegedly possessing an elephant without a valid license.
Thilina Gamage
He was granted bail for a second time, after the Attorney General filed a revised application with the Colombo High Court, annulling the previous bail order granted to Gamage by the Gangodawila Magistrate, amidst reports of a conflict of interest and that Gamage was meted out special treatment by the magistrate, who is a friend of Gamage’s.
Colombo High Court Judge Manilal Waidyathilake had released Gamage on bail on grounds that he was a judicial officer and as he had assisted the CID in earlier investigations. Gamage’s passport was however impounded, and he was ordered to appear before the CID once a week.
Lapatiya / June 21, 2016
“Colombo High Court Judge Manilal Waidyathilake had released Gamage on bail on grounds that he was a judicial officer……”
That is absolutely nice argument for all the other “Ali Babas” as well as other Babas.
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Lion / June 21, 2016
it is indeed a sad day for the judiciary.If one takes the argument of the judge that he was a judicial officer and he should be treated differently. Question arises as to a person who was a judge, who knows law governing very well,should be severely dealt with.
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Common Sense / June 21, 2016
This elephant business and the judicial community has several aspects.
Firstly it appears that some are more equal than others. Some were remanded, even priests were not spared. At the same time sensitive cases involving higher ups by the elephantine judge also matters.
Secondly, it is a poser. Is keeping an elephant without a license is as serious as growing Ganja without a valid license? One must be sensible in not making elephants out of mice.
When people should be accused for serious crimes such as murder and plundering the national economy, and for that reason we voted them out of office, no action is visible in taking action in that direction. Instead some minor cases are filed, including keeping elephants without license. Is that all we can do when so much was lost. A case in point is the colossal losses in the national carrier.
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Govinda / June 21, 2016
Elephant Judge Gamage Released On Bail Again, But Passport Impounded
Joke for the Day
A good Justification from the Wanapalanaya Judges.
So the the same Justifcation can be applied to Rajapakshas.
They ruled the country for 10 years and got rid of the LTTE for safety of the public at large.
Isn’t that good enough for the Wanapalanaya judges.
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Bensen Berner / June 21, 2016
The poor elephant must be released before this so called judge is released.Bensen
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thrishu / June 21, 2016
Judicial officer ……..? Why? Is he above the law? The fact of the matter is that he has been manipulating the law to suit him and evading its proper course of implementation. This is the crooked way, law and order is implemented in Sri Lanka. International legal bodies,please take note what goes in this Dhamma Dweepa behind the curtains!
What about Bikku Uduwe? Was he released on bail deliberately to set a precedence by another bias judicial chap, in order for the crooked elephant judge to be released on bail? Is that not another form of manipulation of law to suit this “judicial officer”?
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AshyD / June 22, 2016
“The Judge released him on bail, considering special circumstances including him being a judicial officer and his contribution and assistance given to the CID in earlier investigations”. –
First, being a Judicial officer and a responsible one at that he should not have got himself into this mess in the first place.
He should have known what he was doing is against the law. Next he is supposed to have forged documents or being party to such criminal activity to take possession of the elephant.
Second he never reported to the CID when he was called to do so and was absconding when arrest was imminent. So where is the logic?
Is Sri Lanka going to the dogs, under Yahapalanaya? The JSC should put this whole case, from A-Z under a microscope and see that an impartial inquiry is initiated and take appropriate action or our beloved country will be the joker in the pack of responsible nations.
In the meantime the Attorney General, who has been treated shabbily by the Judiciary in this whole episode should not take it lying down they should initiate further action in a higher court, and see that the rogue magistrate is remanded, which would give ordinary citizens of our country the confidence that Justice is equal for all in our “thrice blessed land”.
If not the people would lose the respect they have for the law of the land and one day we could have anarchy, which no amount of religious indoctrination could avoid.
The next move of the AG in this game of “Snakes & Ladders” is being closely watched by the people, who are all behind him.
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Shrikharan / June 22, 2016
So now you see why the victims of the war crimes wants foreign judges and NOT Sri Lankan judges. Firstly there is a natural conflict of interests which forbids a judge belonging to either side from getting officially involved in the judicial process. Secondly and more importantly you can see how corrupt the judiciary is and all the commentators here were condemning the judiciary on this small case.
Just imagine the extent of tragedy faced by the ordinary people being taken by the military and subsequently went missing. Including war crimes committed on the LTTE fighters shooting them blind folded at point blank range. Killing the fighters who came carrying white flags all after having being informed to the authorities through international mediation. Arrest and killing of Ramesh and killing of LTTE news reader Isai Priya after rape. Just to mention a few.
I do not deny LTTE did not commit war crimes, they too must be answerable for their part.
Certainly you can see for yourself how can we trust the corrupt Sri Lankan judiciary for an impartial hearing.
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