|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Tuesday, 16 March 2004 |
 |
|
 |
News | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
Customs officer testifies to placing signature on Godage's passport by Sarath Malalasekera Customs Officer Tennakoon Mudiyanselage Sarath Tennakoon giving evidence in the Thilanga Sumathipala case before the Colombo Chief Magistrate and Additional District Judge Sarojini Kusala Weerawardena yesterday produced a photo copy of a passport bearing number M - 1604462 of Buddhika Priyasantha Godage and said that he placed his signature on page 5 of the passport on May 1, 1999 while he was on duty at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA). President's Counsel Gamini Marapana, Senior Counsel for Thilanga Sumathipala, citing several authorities under the Evidence Ordinance objected to the evidence of Tennakoon being recorded and submitted to court that the photo copy before court should be the first photo copy of the original passport. Senior State Counsel Yasantha Kodagoda, who examined Tennakoon said that the photo copy was one of the documents contained in the original file of the application made by Godage to the Immigration and Emigration Controller to obtain a passport. After lengthy submission by Counsel for both parties, the Judge allowed the State to examine the Customs officer after producing the original of the photo copy submitted to court. Examined by Senior State Counsel Kodagoda, the Customs Officer said that the passport bearing number M - 1604462 was issued on December 30, 1997 and the expiry date was December 30, 2002. The date of birth on the passport was August 3, 1973. Former Cricket Board Chief Executive Officer Dhammika Ranatunga re examined by Kodagoda said that he was sent on compulsory leave by a letter signed by then Secretary Mohan de Silva, without holding a preliminary inquiry against him. At this stage Senior Defence Counsel Marapana objected to the document signed by S.K. Silva being produced and said that his (S.K.Silva's) statements had been recorded by the CID only last Friday, March 12, 2004. Marapana also objected to that document being produced by Ranatunga and requested court to produce that document through witness Silva when he gives evidence. Senior State Counsel Kodagoda said that this document is only to prove the payment voucher to Godage. Judge Weerawardena - All documents are produced before court subject to verification, if not proved, those evidence will not accepted by the court at the end of the trial. Senior Defence Counsel - Those vouchers are not before court. Shown several documents Ranatunga said that Thilanga Sumathipala had used Cricket Board funds to go abroad. Sumathipala is charged under the Immigration and Emigration Act, for aiding and abetting an underworld gang leader Dhammika Perera alias Dhammika Amarasinghe to travel to England to witness the World Cup Cricket in 1999 on a forged passport. The offence had been committed between April 1, 1999 and June 15, 1999. Earlier, Sumathipala pleaded not guilty to the charges read out to him. Deputy Solicitor General Suhada Gamlath, Senior State Counsel Yasantha Kodagoda, Senior State Counsel Vijith Malalgoda, Senior State Counsel Priyantha Nawanna, State Counsel Amendra Seneviratne and Prosecuting Attorney Rohan Jayasundera appeared for the Attorney General with the CID. President's Counsel Gamini Marapana, Rienzie Arasacularatne PC, Dr. Harsha Cabral, Navin Marapana, Harin Gomes, Ranjan Srikantha, Wasantha Batagoda appeared for Thilanga Sumathipala. The proceedings were adjourned until March 24 - 2.15 p.m. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
