By Ishara Ratnakara

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) yesterday filed murder charges in the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court, on the advice of the Attorney General, against 13 suspects including Parliamentarian Duminda Silva for the killing of Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra and three others. They were charged on 10 counts including murder, attempted murder and causing grievous injuries to Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra, Mohamed Asmi, Damith Dharshana Jayatilleke and Manival Kumaraswamy at Mulleriyawa on 8 October 2011.

The accused, residents of Kolonnawa, Gothatuwa, Angoda and Sedawatta, were charged under Sections 140, 146 and 296 of the Penal Code. The Attorney General’s advice to the CID was delivered to Director CID by State Counsel Thusitha Mudalige. The 13 suspects named in the complaint were Vithanalage Anura Thushara de Mel, Chandana Jagath Kumara, Chaminda Ravi Jayanath, Lanka Rasanjana, Malaka Sameera, Vidanagamage Amila, Sarath Bandara, Suranga Premalal, Chaminda Saman Kumara Abeywickrama, Janaka Bandara Galaboda (not arrested), Parliamentarian Duminda Silva (not arrested), Rohana Marasinghe and N.A. Shaminda.

Another seven suspects, Manjula Prasad Hettiarchchi Sibli Munawar, Mohammad Sampras, Charindu Asanka, Dhananjaya Madusanka Silva, Bandula Senarathna, Ruwan Madusanka Silva and Rajapurage Gamini were released on the advice of the Attorney General earlier.

After concluding the investigations, a file was submitted to the Attorney General for advice on 27 January. More than one year after the incident, the Attorney General advised to file plaints against the accused. Prior to it, the Attorney General had advised the CID to take steps to seek Court’s intervention to hold non-summary proceedings relating to the charges. As directed, non-summary proceedings were to be conducted before Additional Magistrate Sandun Vithana and therefore the case file was referred to Court No. 6 by Additional Magistrate, Prasanna Alwis.

When non-summary proceedings were started, ASP CID Shani Abeysekera asked for time from the Court to produce the list of witnesses and case productions. One month’s time was granted. Counsel for prosecution, Upul Kumarapperuma, addressing the Court thanked ASP Abeysekara and the Investigation Unit OIC, Meryl Ranjan Lamahewa and the Attorney General’s Department for their unstinted effort to promote justice for all and requested the Court to direct the arrest of Parliamentarian Silva as he is an accused in the case.

President’s Counsel Hemantha Warnakulasuriya, appearing for Silva said, “He is receiving medical treatment at present. However, Additional Magistrate Prasanna Alwis did not allow a request by the prosecution for his arrest. He will definitely come to Sri Lanka to face trial. I hope to discuss this matter with his father and the doctors.

Having considered the matters submitted by the Counsel for Defence, Additional Magistrate Vithana gave one month’s time to produce the suspect in Court.

The Additional Magistrate decided to resume non-summary proceedings on 14 March and directed the nine suspects now in remand to be held till 5 March.
COURTESY:CEYLON TODAY