CCD records statement from HC Judge Gihan Pilapitiya

Colombo Crime Division recorded a statement from the Judge of the Embilipitiya High Court, Gihan Pilapitiya for more than three hours regarding the telephone conversation he had with the former State Minister Ranjan Ramanayaka.

This statement was recorded following an order issued by the Attorney General Dappula de Livera to the Director of Colombo Crime Division to record statements from judges who are serving currently and are alleged to have been involved in telephone conversations with Ranjan Ramanayaka.

Gihan Pilapitiya arrived at the Colombo Crime Division yesterday at about 10.00 a.m. and the statement recording went on until 1.00 p.m. the sources said.

Statements are to be recorded from former High Court Judge, Padmini N. Ranawaka, and Baddegama Magistrate Dhammika Hemapala who is under interdiction for his involvement in phone conversations with Ranjan Ramanayaka. High Court Judge Gihan Pilapitiya has forwarded a written complaint to the acting IGP stating that the former State Minister Ranjan Ramanayaka manipulated him with regards to several sensitive and controversial cases which prevailed when he was serving as the Colombo Chief Magistrate, according to police sources.

He has forwarded that complaint on January 9 and the acting IGP has forwarded the complaint to the Senior DIG of the Western Province, Deshabandu Tennakoon.

Senior DIG, Deshabandu Tennakoon has forwarded the complaint to the Colombo Crime Division and Colombo Crime Division has initiated examining the complaint, police sources said. Gihan Pilapitiya has stated in his complaint that even though he had forwarded a complaint of the same nature to Judicial Service Commission in 2015 which subsequently had been forwarded to the then IGP N. K. Ilangakoon, no action had been taken with regards to the complaint. (Indika Ramanayaka)