Chandana Kathriarachchi case:

Judge dissolves jury following threats

Hiran H.Senewiratne 

The jury in the case involving former Deputy Minister Chandana Kathriarachchi was dissolved yesterday by Colombo High Court Judge Kumudini Wickramasinghe after the jury claimed they were receiving death threats.

The High Court Judge ordered Kathriarachchi to be remanded over his alleged involvement in the murder of C.D. Chandrarathne in 1996. Therefore, four accused including Kathriarachchi will be remanded until the case is over. With the dissolution of the jury, the case was put off for August 5 for the hearing and to decide on the future steps to be taken.

The Judge also took to task the Criminal Investigation Department for its failure to produce the fourth accused who is now absconding, before Court.

Further, the Court also released a suspect who is 85 years claiming to be the father of Chandana Kathriarachchi.

The CID investigations revealed that he is not Kathriarachchi’s father but one of his relatives.

This case was earlier heard before the Panadura High Court with a jury.

It was consequently transferred to the Colombo High Court due to the threats received by members of the jury following the 50th hearing.

This time the jury was threatened after five days of hearing of the case.