The writ application filed by the interdicted High Court Judge Gihan Pilapitiya seeking an interim injunction order preventing his arrest has been fixed for consideration on May 04.

It was taken up before President of Appeals Court, Justice A.H.M.D. Nawaz and Justice Sobhitha Rajakaruna today (12).

President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva, who appeared on behalf of Pilapitiya, requested the judge bench to extend the ruling previously delivered preventing the arrest of his client without a court order, until the next hearing.

Deputy Solicitor General Milinda Gunatilake, who represented the Attorney General, raising objections to the relevant request, stated that it is not necessary to extend a previously issued ruling as the police have already obtained another order on Pilapitiya.

However, the judge bench ruled that the previously issued court order will be in effect until the next hearing.

Embilipitiya High Court Judge Gihan Pilapitiya was interdicted on January 22 over the controversial phone conversation he had with UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayake.

A series of audio recordings of phone conversations between the MP and several high-profile officials in the country including former Director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Shani Abeysekara and three judges, were leaked to the media earlier this month.

Recordings contained phone conversations between the parliamentarian and Justice Gihan Pilapitiya, retired Judge Padmini Ranawaka, and Magistrate Dhammika Hemapala.

As per the Attorney General’s instructions, the CCD recorded statements from HC Judge Pilapitiya, Retired Judge Padmini Ranawaka and Magistrate Hemapala.