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| Tuesday, 1 March 2005 |
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ASP Udugampola assaulted two blindfolded persons at Bakamuna police quarters by Sandasen Marasinghe Chandana de Silva, a supporter of Tissa Attanayake said that ASP Udugampola assaulted the two persons who were blindfolded at Bakamuna Police quarters. He said this before the Trial-at-Bar hearing the Udatalawinna massacre case while he was examined by the President's Counsel Wijedasa Rajapakse. The Trial-at-Bar comprises High Court Judge Deepali Wijesundara and High Court Judge Sunil Rajapakse. Former Chairman of the United National Party Charitha Ratwatte said that he issued the Membership Card of the United National Party to S. B. Weerasekara and a letter of thanks was also sent to him for joining the UNP in 2001. He said so when he was examined by the President's Counsel Wijedasa Rajapakse and he added that the membership was valid until 2006. Witness said he was an advocate and had been secretary to five Ministries and was a member of the Working Committee of the UNP. He is also a director of the Kandy Hotels Corporation. Shown the membership card and the letter of thanks sent to S. B. Weerasekara witness identified them. Cross-examined by Deputy Solicitor General Palitha Fernando Charitha Ratwatte denied that the UNP conspired to entangle its political opponents in fictitious cases. Later when President's Counsel Wijedasa Rajapakse examined defence witness, Chandana de Silva, he said that he worked as a security guard to MP Tissa Attanayake during the election period of 2000 and 2001. He said that after the election, on December 7, 2001 he went to visit his friends Chandana and Kulasinghe at the 559 Restaurant owned by Wijesinghe; a strong supporter of Tissa Attanayake at around 8.30 a.m. They came to the Restaurant later in a van with ASP Udugampola and two other Police officers who were in Uniform. ASP Udugampola had a discussion with Wijesinghe. "Thereafter Chandana handed over the key of the vehicle to Rizwie alias Kuwait and I was asked to go with Rizwie". Later they went to Pradeshiya Saba Chairman, Nugaliyadda's residence at the Galaha road. Two persons with their hands bound were bundled into the van after their eyes were covered with scraps from a bed sheet and returned to 559 restaurant. Having taken two bags into the van by Udugampola they went to the Mahiyangana Police Training College. Witness at this stage identified 10th and 11th accused in the current case as the persons who were abducted. He further said that Udugampola boarded a double cab while another SI joined them and they followed Udugampola's vehicle. They went to Mahiyangana Police behind Udugampola's vehicle and then to the Bakamuna Police where the two blindfolded persons were taken into the Police Quarters and beaten by ASP Udugampola. Witness heard the victims' screaming. Rizvi (Kuwait) and witness came to the Mahiyangana Police and obtained a curfew pass and went to Tissa Attanayake's residence at Hasalaka and returned to Kandy. Cross-examined by Deputy Solicitor General Palitha Fernando witness said that he conveyed the details about this incident to Attorney Jayasinghe, an SLFPer about two or three months ago. He (Witness) is an accused in two separate cases and he told this to the Attorney with the intention that his charges would be reduced. He further said that in one case against him he was in the vicinity of a brawl but was suspected for assault and in the other he was speaking with a person who had two grenades while he was being taken into custody (in 1997) where witness became a suspect. Asked as to why he did not inform this incident to the Police, witness said that since Udugampola was a Police Officer he was reluctant to do so. When the DSG suggested that he was giving false evidence witness denied it. He said though he thought the Attorney would reduce his fees nothing of the kind happened. Re-examined by President's Counsel Wijedasa Rajapakse witness said that the Police did not inquire about this incident from him. He was afraid of ASP Udugampola and also Wijesinghe. Deputy Solicitor General Palitha Fernando, State Counsel Achala Wengappuli, State Counsel Mohan Senaviratne and State Counsel Ayesh Ariyasinghe appeared for the Attorney General while President's Counsel Wijedasa Rajapakse, Anil Silva and Sudath Karavita appeared for the Defence. |
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