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| Tuesday, 3 August 2004 |
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Politics | |
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| Accused in unlawful assembly case acquitted Kumara Keerthi Chandrasiri, Wayamba Provincial Councillor and Deputy Chairman of Committees was charged in the Magistrates Court of Galgamuwa that he did on 15/9/2000 being a member of an unlawful assembly with others unknown to the prosecution the common object of which was the intimidation of UNP supporters by firing several shots in the air and thereby committed an offence 146 of the Penal Code or in the alternative committed the offence of intimidation of one Addipathu and several other UNP supporters and thereby committed an offence punishable under 486 of the Penal Code. After several dates of hearing he was acquitted on all counts. The Magistrate W.P.S. Nissanka delivering a lengthy order having considered the entirety of the prosecution case stated that one Sarath Addipathu Gunaratne, a member of the Galgamuwa Pradeshiya Sabha was in the act of decorating the town along with hundred supporters putting up green flags in preparation for a public rally to be presided by UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. At this time the accused came in a double cab along with Deputy Ministers Bandula Basnayake and T.B. Ekanayake and other PA supporters, Keerthi Kumara had got down from the cab uttering abusive language and shot at the crowd which later dispersed. The accused giving evidence stated that he and his supporters got information that the complainant and his supporters were tearing down blue flags and streamers put up by him. The accused and his supporters questioned the complainant as to what right he had to do so. On being questioned the complainant and his supporters attacked them with clubs and stones. Whereupon the accused was compelled to fire shots in the air in defence of himself and others who accompanied him in the van. The police whilst giving evidence in the case stated that they came to the scene on a radio message sent to them by the security officer of Deputy Minister Basnayake and saw the unruly crowd attacking the cab of the accused. The Magistrate held that the evidence of the inspector caused serious doubt in the case and gave that benefit to the accused and acquitted him on all counts. The prosecution case was led by the O.I.C. of the Galgamuwa Police I.P. Dayaratne. Anil Obeyesekere, P.C. with Mrs. Balalle and Mrs. Sandiya Edirimune appeared for the accused. |
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