The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has formally terminated former Moratuwa District Judge and Colombo Chief Magistrate Thilina Gamage following the conclusion of a formal internal investigation that found him guilty of all charges.
Gamage, who had been under suspension throughout the proceedings, was investigated over serious allegations of misconduct involving the illegal possession of a baby elephant named “Sakura,” which was allegedly kept using forged permit documentation.
The origin of the case dates back to May 2015, when an investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) led to the elephant being seized and transferred to the Department of Wildlife Conservation.
Submit Your Press Release
Get your company news, announcements, launches, appointments and events in front of a wider audience.
Following these findings, the JSC suspended Gamage from his post as an Additional Magistrate in Colombo in 2016.
Although formal indictments were filed against Gamage and three co-accused in the Colombo High Court in November 2019, the Attorney General’s Department opted to drop the criminal charges in December 2021 due to a lack of sufficient evidence.
Despite the dismissal of the criminal trial, the JSC pursued separate administrative disciplinary actions. In June 2025, the Commission formally served Gamage with a charge sheet regarding the allegations.
By August 2025, the JSC issued formal written notices detailing further procedural steps regarding his suspension and granting him a 21-day window to respond, ultimately culminating in his complete removal from service. (MA)
