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| Wednesday, 13 November 2002 |
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by Indeewara Thilakarathne Colombo High Court Judge Sarath Ambepitiya, President of the Trial-at-Bar hearing the Bindunuwewa case yesterday remanded the 26th witness who pleaded guilty to the charge of making false statements to Court, till the end of the trial. Earlier, the 46th witness, a Samurdhi Development officer, Gamini Wijesuriya was also remanded on the same charge. The Trial-at-Bar comprised High Court Judges Sarath Ambepitiya (President), Eric Basnayaka and Upali Abeyratne. According to the indictment, the 41 accused are charged on 83 counts including unlawful assembly, committing the murders of 28 persons and attempted murder of 14 others at the Bidunuwewa Rehabilitation Centre at Bandarawela on October 25, 2000. Making an application the State Counsel Priyantha Nawana said that the witness R.M. Priyanthalal had gone back on his own statements made earlier in the Court and accepted that he had given false evidence. Later the witness admitted that he met Sisira and Sudu Mahatung at the main gate of the camp. The State Counsel said that by this act on the part of the witness and his subsequent admission of the guilt had lowered the reputation of the Court and challenged its authority and jurisdiction. The offence, the State Counsel stated, was amount to contempt of Court and urged the Court to remand the witness. Accordingly, the High Court Judge Sarath Ambepitiya ordered that the witness be remanded till the end of the trial. Senior State Counsel Priyantha Nawana, S. Wickremasinghe and Nawarathna Marasinghe appeared for the prosecution. U.R. de Silva with Prasad Sirimanne appeared for the 4 to 31 accused. Prasanthalal de Alwis and Senerath Jayasundara appeared as Defence Counsel for the rest of the accused. Further hearings will resume on November 14. |
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