Bharatha killing case: suspects remanded till August 21

Sarath MALALASEKERA

Additional Magistrate Prasanna Alwis yesterday remanded the suspects taken into custody by the CID in connection with the killing of Presidential Trade Union Advisor, former Colombo District Parliamentarian Baratha Lakshman Premachnadra, till August 21.

At the outset, CID ASP Shani Abeysekera who appeared with Chief Inspector Ranga Lamahewa for the prosecution submitted a detailed report on their investigations and the medical report of MP Duminda Silva that had been forwarded to the Attorney General.

ASP Abeysekera said the Attorney General had indicated to them that a report in connection with the CID investigations report will be forwarded to court as early as possible.

President’s Counsel. Hemantha Warnakulasuriya, senior counsel for MP Duminda Silva, who is receiving treatment in Singapore, submitted to court that assassinated MP Baratha Lakshman Premachandra’s daughter Hirunika Premachandra had made several statements to the media regarding his client that he had come to Sri Lanka and is in hiding.

“This is not true,” he said. The magistrate said that in respect of the contempt matter mentioned earlier, the parties could go before the High Court if they need to proceed with the matter and this court is not entertaining the issue.

The special CID team deployed by the CID DIG Jayantha Kulathilaka had recovered two T56 weapons, two pistols and two revolvers and questioned 37 persons including several security personnel who were at the scene on the day of the incident.

Senior Attorney Arjun Premaratne and Attorney Kumarapperuma appeared for some of the suspects.