Kadirgamar assassination:

CCD unable to hand notice to Prabhakaran

Sandasen Marasinghe

The Officer In Charge of Colombo Crime Division yesterday informed the Colombo High Court that notice could not be handed over to four suspects including LTTE leader Velupillei Prabhakaran in connection with the assassination of former Foreign Minister Laxman Kadirgamar since they were residing in the Vanni which is an uncleared area.

The Colombo Crime Division informed Colombo High Court Judge Kumuduni Wickramasinghe that all the suspects were LTTE leaders and the notice could not be handed over as there were no Police or Armed Forces present in the area.

The CCD further informed the Court that notice had been sent under Registered Post (No. 3924) on May 31, 2008 to be delivered by the Grama Seva Officer working under the District Secretary of Mulativu. So far the Mulativu District Secretary had not provided reports, in this regard.

Former Foreign Minister Laxman Kadirgamar was assassinated in a sniper attack at his residence in Longden Place, Colombo on August 12, 2005.

The Attorney General filed the case against Velupillai Prabakaran, Pottuamman alias Shiva Shankar, Charles alias Charlis Master, Komadee Manimekala alias Madee, Muttaiyah Sahadevan and Isithor Arokyanathan alias Babu for conspiring with another LTTE member Vinothan to assassinate Minister Kadirgamar and committing the murder as a result of the conspiracy made at Kilinochchi and at Colombo between January 01, 2005 and August 12, 2005.

Muttaiyah Sahadevan and Isithor Arokyanathan alias Babu are in the remand custody.