Bharatha killing:

CID ordered to inform court of whereabouts of Duminda Silva

Sarath MALALASEKERA

Colombo Additional Magistrate Prasanna Alwis, who is presiding over the murder trial of Presidential Trade Union Advisor and former Colombo District Parliamentarian Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra, yesterday, directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to ascertain the whereabouts of Duminda Silva MP and inform court on the next date, April 4.

Earlier, the CID informed the magistrate that the medical report of MP Duminda Silva had been forwarded to the Attorney General and are awaiting his advice.

Sixteen out 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 April 4, 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 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 MP Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra was killed and forwarded the 2,597-page 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.

The special CID team deployed by the CID DIG earlier 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, Kingsley Perera and several others appeared for the suspects.

Further hearing was put off for April 4.