Association's secretary, Ziras Noordeen says the sudden transfer of magistrate Sarath C.Karunaratne has been politically motivated and unfair.

They have written to the chief justice Sarath Silva and requested to stop this transfer, says Association's secretary, Ziras Noordeen who is also a United National Party (UNP) member of the Colombo Municipal Council.

"Magistrate Karunaratne has been involved in several important cases and 'Helping Hambantota' was under his purview at the time of the transfer.

He said evidence with regard to the 'Helping Hambantota' case have come up leading to the arrest of a special person.

"We believe this transfer is to prevent that", lawyer Noordin added.

Reacting to this allegation, the secretary to the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) P.W.de Jayathilleke said that the magistrate Karunaratne has been transferred over two complaints received against him.

The JSC decided that these complaints could not be investigated while he was still the court's magistrate.

One of the complainants, a foreign lady has constantly inquired from the us why JSC had not initiated action.

JSC having investigated the facts has decided to transfer the magistrate paying way to probe these complaints, he said.

Asked whether there is any connection between the transfer and the 'Helping Hambantota' investigations, Jayathillke said that it was not true.

He said that it was an additional magistrate who had given the order to investigate into the 'Helping Hambantota' case.