Udatalawinna massacre case : No record that a weapon was issued to Lt. Wijeratne

by Sandasen Marasinghe

Captain Ajith Subasinghe of the Boyagane Camp said that there was no record indicating that a weapon was issued to Lieutenant Wijeratne during the period of the 2001 General Election.

Captain Ajith said so before the Trial-at-Bar hearing the Udatalawinna Massacre Case when he was examined by Defence Counsel Anil Silva. The Trial-at-Bar comprises High Court Judge Deepali Wijesundara (President) and High Court Judge Sunil Rajapakse.

He further said that according to the documents a weapon had not been issued to Lieutenant Wijeratne when they went to Pallekelle Camp from the Boyagane Camp. Cross-examined by the Deputy Solicitor General Palitha Fernando witness Captain Ajith said that OIC of the Armoury of the Camp is the person who knew about the issuance of weapons.

Ven. Kalavinne Wimaladarma Thera of the Palletalawinne Bogahapitiya Rajamahaviharaya said when he was examined by Defence Counsel Anil Silva that a Bodhi Pooja was held at the temple on December 02, 2001 to which Chanuka Ratwatte, son of former Defence Minister Anuruddha Ratwatte participated.

The Bodi Pooja was over around 7.20 p.m. and later a bomb exploded there and ten people were injured. The Court ordered the Bogambara Prison Superintendent to forward the documents which included the inventory of the goods removed from the inmates between December 2001 and June 30, 2002.

Deputy Solicitor General Palitha Fernando appeared for the Attorney General while Anil Silva appeared for Defence.