Mulleriyawa killing: suspects further remanded

Sarath MALALASEKERA

Sixteen of the 20 suspects who are alleged to have been involved in the Mulleriyawa shooting incident that caused the death of Presidential Trade Union Advisor and former Colombo District Parliamentarian Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra were yesterday further remanded till February 28, 2012 by Colombo Additional Magistrate Prasanna Alwis.

Duminda Silva MP and his bodyguard were not present in court yesterday. Earlier, the court granted bail for two other suspects who are alleged to have been involved in the shooting incident.

On the last hearing date, nine prosecution witnesses identified 10 suspects who are alleged to have been involved in the killing of former MP Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra, at an identification parade held by the Magistrate.

At the outset, CID Chief Inspector Merril Ranga Lamahewa yesterday informed court that they have completed the investigations into the shooting incident at Mulleriyawa where former MP Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra was killed and forwarded the dossier of the investigations to the Attorney General to obtain advice whether to file two separate cases or to file one case against the suspects in connection with the shooting incident. The special CID team deployed by the CID DIG earlier recovered two T 56 weapons, 12 pistols and two revolvers and questioned 37 persons including several security persons who were present at the time of the incident.

Attorneys Ajith Pathirana, Anuja Premaratne, Kingsley Perera and several other Attor neys appeared for some of the suspects.

Further hearing was put off for February 28, 2012.