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Udatalawinna Mass Murder : Two more witnesses testifies

by Kumar Wethasinghe

Major Chamida Upendra Perera and Major Sardha Samarakone yesterday testified before the Trial at Bar hearing the Udatalawinna Mass Murder case at Hulftsdorp yesterday.

The Trial at Bar Comprised High Court Judges Eric Basnayake (President) Deepal Wijesundera and Sunil Rajapakse.

Examined by State Counsel Mohan Seneviratne, Major Chaminda Upendra Perera testified that movement orders were issued to the fourth accused Lt Wijeratne and his platoon to travel from the Boyagane camps to the Pallekale camp during the General Elections 2001.

Questioned on the procedure to issue movement orders the witness said the duplicate of such orders at issuing end.

The witness also examined and admitted that the signature on the movement order dated 7.12.2001 as his signature. Further he said it had been authorised by Major Sisira Herath.

Cross examined by Defence Counsel Anil de Silva, the witness admitted that p/3 did not indicate the number of the weapon issued to the 4th accused. Besides in its column nothing was marked to indicate whether with or without weapons and under dress column no specification as to uniform or combat kit.

The witness also admitted that there was no special instructions and that the mode of travel was also not stated. However, the bus that carried the fourth accused and the platoon had left Boyagane on 30.11.2001 and had returned from Pallekele on 6.12.01.

Asked whether the witness knew that the police had recorded a statement from Sisira Herath the witness replied in the affirmative but said that the had not been present there at the time. He also admitted that in p/3 under sp 21.12.01 there is no signature.

The witness further said that in 1991 Lt. Wijeratne was attached to the first Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment.

On 29.11.01, two troops were kept prepared on the orders of Headquarters. The fourth accused had arrived at the Boyagane camp in the afternoon of 30.11.01. According to documents the exact time of departure is also not marked.

The witness Lance Corporal Anura Kumar, could not identify whose hand writing was shown in the defence's note.

Answering court, the witness said records were maintained when a person goes on leave and reports for duty afterwards.

He said no direct answer can be given on those marked as absent. He explained sometimes people don't return for duty for several reasons including desertion, The Army however maintained records of weapons individually issued to each person with an account of ammunition.

Under re-examination by the State Counsel Mohan Seneviratne the witness admitted that although p/3 did not indicate the number of the weapon issued to the fourth accused, the Armoury Records clearly indicated the name of Person, weapon number and the ammunition numbers issued with the dates. He said the weapon number issued to Lt. Wijeratne according to records was No. 1230935 with 120 ammunition rounds. It also contained similar records on the others who accompanied Lt. Wijeratne and these tallied with the entries found on the movement orders.

Major Perera said as per P/3 the fourth accused dress was not mentioned but he had seen the platoon leaving in their uniforms.

Answering court, the witness said when a platoon is sent to serve in one place it is a practice that they wear similar uniforms.

Examined by Deputy Solicitor General Palitha Fernando, Major Sardha Padmakumara Bandara Samarakone also gave evidence.

Major Samarakone had joined the SLA in 1988 and was attached to the Gajaba Regiment.

During the General Elections 2001, he was serving at the Regional Head Quarters Kandy, Brigadier Tammita was its commanding officer and the witness was one of the staff officers who handled operational and administrative duties separately.

His responsibilities included directing platoons which arrive in the region to respective points. The commander always had five additional platoons standby further reinforcements were requested from Colombo.

These platoons were stationed at USR Kandy, Laxapana, Kegalle, Matale. Lt. Col. Wijeratne, Major Ratnayake, Capt. Athugala and others were incharge of them.

On 30/11/01 Brigadier Tammita had informed him that a platoon was due from Boyagane.

He said as staff officer he had prepared a list of do's and donts to be issued to visiting platoons on the orders of the CO (p/15). It was under his signature.

Accordingly, he has instructed Lt. Wijeratne and the platoon of 15 to report to the Deputy Defence Minister's residence at Mahaiyawa and provide internal security to him. Also to maintain daily log entries. The witness identified the movement orders given to Lt. Wijeratne from Boyagane and order given for their departure.

The latter was issued on 6/12/01 at around 5 pm under his signature.

Although it's required to report any special incidents, Lt. Wijeratne's platoon had not made any report.

The witness further said that according to the movement orders they had not mentioned any records pertaining to the usage of ammunition.

The witness examined the Armoury Record Book of the Boyagane camp and pointed out that Lt. Wijeratne and platoons was listed there with details of the weapons and ammunition issued to them.

Court: The arrival movement order did not contain the fourth accused's weapon number. How did you include it in the departure movement order?

It must be due to an oversight. I may have obtained it from the fourth accused at the time of issuing orders.

The witness also maintained daily log entries on 9/11/2001. The log records indicated that the President was due to attend PA rally at Matale and a platoon, were sent from Panagoda.

On 21/11/2001, entries showed that the Deputy Defence Minister was to attend a PA rally at Galagedara. A Bomb disposal squad was sent at the request of the SSP.

On 28/11/2001, Gen Ratwatte attended a meeting at Matale, Hethpela and Galewela. An additional platoon and bomb disposal squads had been sent at the request of the SSP.

Similarly on 29/11/2001 there were meetings at the Kandy market square and at Manikhinna where platoons were deployed.

Further hearing resumes today.

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