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| Tuesday, 30 November 2004 |
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by Sarath Malalasekera Two gunmen who fired at Colombo High Court Judge Sarath Ambepitiya and his Police bodyguard Inspector R.A. Upali killing them on the spot were identified at an identification parade held by Colombo Additional Magistrate Priyantha Silva at the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court premises, yesterday. Two other suspects who were alleged to have assisted the two gunmen were also identified by the prosecution witnesses yesterday at the identification parade. The two gunmen identified at the parade are Nishantha Udayakumara of Malabe and Sampath Thusara Wijewardena of Matara. The other suspects are Sujith Rohana Rupasinghe, Suminda Nishatha and Lasantha Kumara.
The suspects were later produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate and Additional District Judge Ms. Sarojini Kusala Weerawardena and remanded till December 10. Judge Weerawardena yesterday directed the Colombo Crime Division Acting Director ASP J.R. Jayawardena to produce the main suspect Pottu Nawfer on December 2. ASP Jayawardena told court that the main suspect Nawfer was detained under a court order pending the completion of investigations in connection with several narcotics trafficking by the Police Narcotics Bureau. The Judge allowed an application by ASP Jayawardena to obtain the blood sample of one of the suspects to be sent to Dr. Maiya Gunasekera for a comprehensive report. Court also allowed an application by the Police to send the 15 productions, including five weapons, several live bullets, spent bullets found at the scene of the incident and several blood samples recovered during their investigations to the Government Analyst for a report. ASP Jayawardena who appeared for the prosecution with Inspector Nuwan Wedisinghe, OIC, CCD and SI Rajapaksa told court that two of the suspects before court were wanted by the Kollupitiya police in connection with another slaying in Colombo. Tight security provided by the STF and police prevailed in and around the Colombo Chief Magistrate's court when the suspects were brought. The security was in charge of Colombo Central ASP, Susantha Premalal Ranagala and assisted Chief Inspector Cyril Wijesena, OIC, Pettah, Chief Inspector J.M.P. Jayalath, Inspector W.M. Chandratilleke, OIC Keselwatta and SI K.W.K. Sisira, OIC Colombo Chief Magistrate Court. Colombo High Court Judge Sarath Ambepitiya was shot dead as he arrived at his official residence at Sarana Mawatha off Bauddhaloka Mawatha Colombo 7 along with his police bodyguard Upali on November 19, 2004. Injuries found on bodies and neck - Colombo Chief Magistrate. Colombo Chief Magistrate and Additional District Judge Ms. Sarojini Kusala Weerawardena who conducted the Magisterial inquiry into the killings of Colombo High Court Judge Sarath Ambepitiya and his bodyguard Inspector R.A. Upali yesterday returned a verdict of death due to injuries found on the bodies and to the neck. Answering Judge ASP Jayawardena said that the suspects will be indicted before the High Court. Crimes and Criminal Intelligence and Narcotics DIG Jayantha Wickremaratne and Colombo DIG Sirisena Herath are conducting investigations into the killing of Justice Sarath Ambepitiya and Inspector Upali of the MSD with the five special police teams led by Colombo Crimes Division Director Senior SP Sarath Lugoda. |
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