Bharatha Lakshman case:

Magistrate orders speedy investigations

Sarath MALALASEKERA

The Colombo Additional Magistrate Prasanna Alwis, who is hearing the Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra murder case, yesterday directed the Criminal Investigations Department to expedite the ongoing investigations and obtain advice from the Attorney General as early as possible and report to court.

At the commencement of the trial, President's Counsel Thirantha Walaliyadda informed court that Hirunika Premachandra, daughter of the late Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra, had made a complaint to Police Headquarters that she had received death threats, which had been reported in the Sinhala media recently.

Sixteen of the twenty suspects who are alleged to have been involved in the shooting incident at Mulleriyawa, were yesterday further remanded till May 8, 2012.

President's Counsel Hemantha Warnakulasuriya brought to the notice of court that he was watching the interests of MP Duminda Silva 's father.

ASP Shani Abeysekera who appeared with Inspector Sugath Kumar of the CID, yesterday submitting a further report in connection with the ongoing investigations into the killing of Bharatha, told court that the dossier of the investigations had been forwarded to the Attorney General and was awaiting his advice.

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.

At the last hearing, nine prosecution witnesses identified ten suspects 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 2 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 Thirantha 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 May 8, 2012.