Supreme Court Overturns Findings of Controversial Upali Abeyratne Commission Against Dilrukshi

The Supreme Court has ruled that the findings, report, and recommendations made by the Presidential Commission on Political Victimisation (PCoI) — in relation to former Solicitor General Dilrukshi Dias Wickramasinghe, President’s Counsel — are null and void.

The Commission, popularly known as the Upali Abeyratne Commission, was appointed in 2020 by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Its purpose was to investigate allegations of political victimisation made by members of the previous government and their allies. However, from its inception, the Commission was mired in controversy, accused of being politically biased and overstepping its legal boundaries by interfering with ongoing legal proceedings and targeting public officials perceived as unsupportive of the Rajapaksa administration.

Dilrukshi Dias Wickramasinghe, a senior legal officer with an esteemed track record, was appointed as Solicitor General on May 10, 2019. She was interdicted in September of that year and later placed on compulsory leave in October 2020, while a preliminary investigation was underway. Wickramasinghe then filed a petition before the Supreme Court, challenging the legality of the Commission’s findings against her.

In its ruling, a three-judge bench consisting of Justices Preethi Padman Surasena, Gamini Amarasekara, and Achala Wengappuli found that the Commission had failed to follow essential legal procedures under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, particularly Sections 16 and 23.

The Court highlighted the lack of evidence that the Commission had conducted its investigations in accordance with the law. Instead, it found significant procedural flaws, rendering the adverse recommendations made against Wickramasinghe legally invalid.

The members of the Commission — retired Supreme Court Judge Upali Abeyratne, retired Court of Appeal Judge Chandrasiri Jayatilake, and former Inspector General of Police Chandra Fernando — were found to have not met the necessary legal standards required for such an inquiry.

This decision by the Supreme Court marks a significant blow to the credibility of the PCoI and adds to growing criticism that the Commission had been used as a tool for political retaliation rather than impartial justice.