Bharatha killing:

Duminda Silva’s medical report to AG for advice

Sarath MALALASEKERA

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) conducting investigations into the assassination of Presidential Trade Union Advisor and former Colombo District Parliamentarian Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra yesterday told the Colombo Additional Magistrate Prasanna Alwis that the medical report of MP Duminda Silva had been forwarded to the Attorney General (AG) and awaiting his advice.

Sixteen of twenty suspects who are alleged to have been involved in the shooting incident of former Parliamentarian Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra were yesterday further remanded till March 27, 2012.

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 Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra, at an identification parade held by the Magistrate. CID Chief Inspector Merril Ranga Lamahewa yesterday informed court that they have completed the investigations into the shooting incident at Mulleriyawa where Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra was killed and forwarded a 2,597-page dossier of the investigations to the Attorney General to obtain advice whether to file two cases or to file one case against the suspects in connection with the shooting incident. The special CID team deployed by the CID DIG had recovered two T 56 weapons, 12 pistols and two revolvers and questioned 37 persons including several security personnel who were present at the time of the incident.

Attorneys Ajith Pathirana,Anuja Premaratne, Bandara Ekanayake, Charitha Galhena, KingsleyPerera and several others appeared for the suspects. Further hearing was put off for March 27.