The Court of Appeal has issued an interim order suspending the hearing the case of the interdicted High Court Judge Gihan Pilapitiya at the Nugegoda Magistrate’s Court.

Appeal Court Judge Bench consisting of President of the Appeal Court Justice A.H.M.D Nawaz and Justice Sobhitha Rajakaruna, today (08), concluded that the case will be heard once a writ application filed by the interdicted High Court Judge Gihan Pilapitiya seeking an interim injunction order is considered.

Accordingly, the court issued notice to Nugegoda Magistrate M. M. Mihal, the Acting Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General to respond to the relevant writ application.

Subsequently, the further hearing of the case was postponed until June 29.

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.