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White flag case:
Court allows video telecast
Sarath MALALASEKERA
The Trial-at-Bar hearing Sarath Fonseka's white flag issue yesterday
allowed the State application to telecast and lead evidence in
connection with the edited version of Fonseka's speech made at the
Election rally on December 23 at Ratnapura. Further hearing will resume
on January 6 and 7, 2011 Senior Defence Counsel Nalin Ladduwahetti moved
court to telecast Fonseka's 30-minute speech if necessary.
Earlier, Court directed the Derana TV News editor to produce the CD
containing Fonseka's full text of the speech made during the election
campaign in Ratnapura on December 23, 2009.
The Bench comprised Colombo High Court Judge Deepali Wijesundera
(President), Colombo High Court Judge W T M P B Warawewa and Colombo
High Court Judge M Z Razeen.
Earlier, Ratnapura Derana correspondent Gayan Kanchanamal Kudagama
gave evidence to examine-in-chief Deputy Solicitor General Wasantha
Navaratne Bandara. The witness said that he recorded the speech made by
Sarath Fonseka on December 23, 2009 at Ratnapura. He later handed over
the recorded CD to the Derana news desk.
Fonseka earlier pleaded not guilty to the three charges made against
him, namely, making a false statement to The Sunday Leader Journalist
Fredrica Jansz that Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa had told
Brigadier. Shavendra Silva to eliminate LTTE cadres who come with a
white flag to surrender during the final stage of the war.
Fonseka is charged on three counts under the Criminal Procedure Code
and under the Emergency Regulations Sections 28 and 29. Deputy Solicitor
General Buvaneka Aluvihare with Senior State Counsel Dilan Ratnayake,
State Counsel Lakmini Girihagama and State Counsel Yohan Liyanage
appeared for the Attorney General.
Senior Attorney Nalin Ladduwahetty with Nilanthi Peiris, Ajith
Pathirana, U L G Bandara, Mervyn de Silva, Wasantha Pitigala, Niroshan
Perera, Namal Rajapaksa, Swarna Bandara and Chathura Anushka Amarasinghe
appeared for Fonseka.
Senior Attorney U R de Silva watched the interests of the Derana and
Sirasa Organisations.
The case will be called again on January 6, 2011 at 10 am. |
