by Roy Denish
The Eranthi Hewawasam suspension followed a controversial YouTube video alleging problems with her judicial conduct and court administration.
The Judicial Service Commission has officially suspended Hambantota Angunakolapelessa Magistrate Eranthi Hewawasam following public outrage sparked by a controversial YouTube video. The footage, released by digital activist Sri Lal Priyantha, a member of the National People’s Power government’s overseas YouTube team, leveled serious allegations against the magistrate’s judicial conduct and court administration.
Priyantha’s political connections to the ruling party helped his sharp critique gain rapid traction online. The video portrayed the magistrate’s decisions as deeply problematic, igniting widespread public debate and ultimately forcing the highest legal authorities to step in and manage the institutional fallout.
In response to the suspension, the Judicial Service Commission, chaired by Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, moved quickly to restructure the local bench. The Commission appointed Udthala Suwandurugoda to oversee criminal court matters at Angunakolapelessa. The appointment added intrigue, as Suwandurugoda had recently been removed from his position as Senior Assistant Secretary of the Judicial Service Commission before being reassigned to this judicial post.
The reshuffling has drawn attention to broader administrative changes within the regional legal system. The area had already seen notable judicial movements, including the transfer of Isuru Nettikumara, a highly respected senior judge known for handling complex and high-profile cases, to the Hambantota region while he served as a high-ranking official in the Judicial Service Association.
Internal judicial sources also report that one of Magistrate Suwandurugoda’s sisters, who is also a sitting judge, is currently awaiting a transfer. This signals a period of significant transition and heightened scrutiny across the local judiciary.
