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Audit Superintendent attempted murder case : Witness says he told accused about the acid throwing incident

by Z. M. Razik in Kandy

H. R. W. Nishantha Peris of Peradeniya Road, Kandy, a correspondent for Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) told Kandy Magistrate C. V. Rajapakse that Razik M. Riyan, a businessman from Katugastota asked him about the latest news of the day.

He told Riyan that acid had been thrown at an officer of the Education Department. Riyan asked him whether the acid throwing incident will be shown over television. He told Riyan that the 8 p.m. television news will carry a report regarding the acid throwing incident.

Nineteenth witness Peris was giving evidence at the non summary proceedings in the audit superintendent Lalith Ambanwala's attempted murder case.

The accused are D. Ananda Munasinghe, former Deputy Director of Education, W. W. M. A. Weerasinghe, former chief accountant, both of Central Provincial Education Department, Razik M. Riyan, a businessman of Katugastota, S. H. M. Saji, H. G. M. L. Nilufer, M. J. M. R. Hiflul Rahuman and M. H. M. Imtiyas all of Mawanella.

They are charged with conspiring to throw acid at Ambanwala. Fifth, sixth and seventh accused are charged with the attempted murder of Ambanwala by throwing acid at him on May 20 this year. The first, second, third and fourth accused are charged separately with aiding and abetting the fifth, sixth and seventh accused in the attempted murder of Ambanwala on the same day.

Peris, in his evidence led by State Counsel Mohan Seniviratne, said he is the managing director of Telefix and a correspondent for SLRC. His firm sells cameras, photographic equipments, CDs and computers. He knew Riyan who is the owner of College of Computer Studies (CCS).

He purchased three computers from CCS two years ago. He used to purchase software items and modern computer equipments through CCS from Singapore. In May this year, he placed an order with CCS to get down some modern software items from Singapore. Witness said he being a SLRC correspondent, it was his duty to report the important news of the day to SLRC.

He used to send his cameraman for televising. If it is an important incident he visits the scene.

Witness said on May 20 around 5.30 p.m., he was told that acid had been thrown at a person. He informed SLRC about the incident and the SLRC asked him to televise the scene and send the report. He went with a cameraman to the scene near the Asgiriya round-about. He saw a white car parked on the road leading to Asgiriya Stadium and two policemen standing at the scene.

He spent about 10 minutes at the scene. He then saw a trishaw coming from the direction of Mahiyawa passed him and proceeding towards Kandy. The trishaw passed the round-about and stopped. He saw Riyan and another person seated in the trishaw. (Witness identified Riyan as the third accused in the case).

Riyan asked him as to what he was doing there. He told Riyan that acid had been thrown at a person and he had come there to televise the scene.

Witness said Riyan asked him to handover the software file to him as he (Riyan) would be going to Singapore soon. The same day around 6.30 p.m., he met Riyan at CCS and handed over the software file to him. Later he made a statement to police.

The witness was not cross examined by the counsel for the defence or re-examined by the State Counsel. The Magistrate put off further inquiry for today and directed all the accused to appear in court. Wijaya Wickremaratne PC with Saman Kariyawasam, Hirantha Herath and Dhammika Ariyadasa appeared for first and second accused. D. P. Kumarasinghe PC with Kithsiri Seniviratne and Mervin Silva appeared for third accused. Lalith Dissanayake appeared for fifth accused. Fourth, sixth and seventh accused were undefended.

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