In a shocking development, Mullaitivu District Judge T. Saravanaraja has resigned from his position and fled the country, citing threats to his life. The judge, who recently ruled on highly sensitive cases involving a religious site in Kurunthurmalai and a remembrance event for an LTTE member, expressed his concerns in a letter to the Secretary of Sri Lanka's Judicial Services Commission.

The judge's decision to resign and leave the country has put the spotlight on the independence of the judiciary in Sri Lanka. Jaffna legislator and senior lawyer M.A. Sumanthiran emphasized the unprecedented challenges faced by the judiciary and expressed worry over the potential consequences.

He stated, "We have seen the executive, and unfortunately sometimes even the Parliament, put the judiciary under stress in recent times." Senior lawyer and former President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka Saliya Pieris linked the intensifying attacks on the judiciary to the period after President Ranil Wickremesinghe took office.

He highlighted instances where judges faced criticism and attacks in Parliament and noted that the president himself indicated non-compliance with court orders. The International Commission of Jurists, a global rights body, also expressed concern over the attack on the independence of the judiciary in Sri Lanka.

The statement came after a ruling party MP made derogatory remarks about a senior magistrate, suggesting a troubling trend. The resignation of Judge Saravanaraja is believed to be connected to the pressure he faced regarding the contentious Kurunthurmalai archaeological site cases.

He revealed that individuals within the government had exerted immense pressure on him to alter his judgments in these cases. The reduction in his security detail and surveillance by military intelligence officers further added to his concerns. These developments have raised significant concerns about the state of judicial independence and security for judges in the North-East of Sri Lanka.

The international community and human rights organizations must closely monitor the situation to ensure the protection of judicial independence and the safety of judges. The freedom of the judiciary is vital for maintaining the rule of law and upholding justice in the country.