Bharatha Lakshman killing:

Court not required to issue arrest warrant- - Additional Magistrate

Sarath MALALASEKERA

Colombo Additional Magistrate Prasanna Alwis, who is hearing the assassination trial of Presidential Trade Union Advisor and former Colombo District Parliamentarian Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra yesterday observed that the court was not required to issue a warrant for the arrest of a suspect, but the investigators could arrest a suspect according to the available evidence before them.

The magistrate made this observation when President’s Counsel Tirantha Walaliyadda, the senior counsel who watched the interests of the deceased party, moved court to issue a warrant for the arrest of Duminda Silva through Interpol.

“MP Duminda Silva is a suspect in this case,” President’s counsel Walaliyadda told court.

Sixteen of the 20 suspects who are alleged to have been involved in the shooting incident at Mulleriyawa were yesterday further remanded till April 24.

At the outset’ President’s Counsel Hemantha Warnakulasuriya, who appeared for MP Duminda Silva, submitted to court an affidavit from Duminda Silva’s father and moved court to keep the document in court custody and issue a copy of it only to the CID.

He also said that his client was due to undergo an operation on August 2, 2012.

ASP Shani Abeysekera who appeared with Inspector Sugath Kumar of the CID yesterday submitting a comprehensive report in connection with their ongoing investigations into the killing of Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra told court that MP Duminda Silva was at present receiving treatment at the Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore.

The CID had also recorded a statement from Duminda Silva’s father and submitted it to the Attorney General and was awaiting his advice. Earlier, the magistrate issued notice on the OIC to ascertain the whereabouts of Duminda Silva, MP and inform court. Duminda Silva MP and his bodyguard were not present in court yesterday. Earlier, 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.

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 persons who were present at the time of the incident.

President’s Counsel Tirantha Walaliyadda with Attorneys Ajith Pathirana, Anuja Premaratne, Bandara Ekanayake, Charitha Galhena, Kingsley Perera and several other attorneys appeared for some of the suspects. Further hearing was put off for April 24, 2012.