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| Friday, 30 July 2004 |
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Ratwatte's sons were at home on election day - Witness by Sandasen Marasinghe Retired Army Officer, Major S. M. Wijeratne stated that former Minister Anuruddha Ratwatte and his two sons Lohan and Chanuka Ratwatte were at their residence in Mahaiyawa on the day of the General Election on December 5, 2001 and they did not go anywhere. He said so when he was examined by Defence Counsel Tirantha Walaliyadda PC before the Trial-at-Bar hearing the Udathalawinna massacre case, on Tuesday. The Trial-at-Bar comprises High Court Judges Eric Basnayake (President), Deepali Wijesundara and Sunil Rajapakse. When Wijeratne was cross-examined by Deputy Solicitor General Palitha Fernando he said that he did not say in his statement to the CID that Anuruddha Ratwatte asked him to go to Teldeniya Police to observe the two jeeps and the account about the kidnapped soldiers were not recorded in it. Witness said that he told Lt. Wickramasinghe and former Minister Ratwatte about the vehicles at the Teldeniya Police over the mobile phone. His two children also worked at the Petroleum Corporation. He denied the suggestion by the DSG that he was trying to hide the fact that he went to look for the vehicles at Teldeniya Police on instructions of the former Minister because of their relationship. Examined by Defence Counsel Tirantha Walaliyadda PC witness said that he was staying at the office of former Minister Ratwatte at Mahaiyawa on December 5, 2001 from 8 a.m. to 6 or 7 p.m. Former Minister Ratwatte and his sons Lohan and Chanuka were also there and they did not go anywhere on that day. When Fernando cross-examined Major Wijeratne again he said that the former Minister and his sons did not even go to cast their votes on December 5, 2001. Mahen Ratwatte was also at the Mahaiyawa residence on that day. He denied the suggestion that he was giving false evidence and said that Mahinda one of the accused was at the Mahaiyawa residence on that day. Examined by State Counsel, Sub Inspector W. N. Bernard Basil of the Criminal Investigation Department said that he went to Katugastota Police around 3 p.m. on December 13, 2001. SI Basil said that he and Jayaweera found a damaged windscreen at the Palanquin hotel next to former Minister Ratwatte's home. He took it to the Katugastota Police and locked it in an empty cell. When he was cross-examined by Defence Counsel Walaliyadda PC witness said that according to his notes the windscreen was found by Jayaweera. Defence Counsel: "When did you go to the Katugastota Police?" Witness: The time is not noted. Defence Counsel: "Did you note that you locked the windscreen in a cell at Mahaiyawa?" Witness: "No, I noted it at the Palanquin Hotel after returning from Katugastota Police having locked the windscreen in a cell. The time has been noted incorrectly." Deputy Solicitor General Palitha Fernando, Senior State Counsel Mohan Seneviratne, Senior State Counsel Achala Wengappuli, State Counsel Shanil Kularatne and Ayesh Ariyasinghe appeared for the Attorney General while Tirantha Walaliyadda PC and Anil Silva appeared for the Defence. |
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