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White flag issue:
Trial at Bar hearing put off for April 1
Sarath MALALASEKERA
The Trial at Bar consisting of three High Court Judges hearing the
Sarath Fonseka white flag issue yesterday put off further hearing for
April 1, 2011. The Bench comprising 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.
At the outset Senior Defence Counsel Nalin Ladduwahetty informed
Court that his client is unable to attend Court as he was suffering from
back ache.
Earlier, Senior Defence Counsel filed a list of witnesses for the
defence. He had mentioned sixteen names as defence witnesses. Three more
names will be included in the list within a week's time, he said.
Earlier, the Trial at Bar allowed an application to call witnesses
for the defence on the next date.
On the last hearing date the prosecution in the white flag case was
closed after recording the evidence of two Inspectors of the Criminal
Investigation Department, Inspector Anura de Silva and Inspector Mahinda
Jayasundera.
On an application by Deputy Solicitor General Buvaneka Aluvihare, who
is leading the prosecuting team with the CID, Senior Defence Counsel
Nalin Ladduwahetty said that he had already provided a copy of defence
witnesses to the State.
Sarath Fonseka earlier pleaded not guilty to the three charges
preferred against him namely making a false statement to The Sunday
Leader Senior Journalist Frederica Jansz that Defence Secretary
Gotabhaya Rajapaksa had told Brig. Shavendra de Silva to eliminate the
LTTE cadres who come with a white flag to surrender during the final
stage of the war.
Sarath Fonseka is charged on three counts under the Criminal
Procedure Code and under the Emergency Regulations Sections 28 and 29.
Deputy Solicitor General Buvaneka Aluvihara with Senior State Counsel
Dilan Ratnayake, State Counsel Lakmini Girihagama and State Counsel
Riyaz Bary 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, Kelum Ubeysekera,
Swarna Bandara and Chathura Anushka Amaratunga appeared for Sarath
Fonseka.
Further proceedings will resume on April 1, 2011. |
