Indictments served on 37 defendants

The three-member High Court Bench yesterday commenced hearing into the case filed by the Attorney General against the 42 defendants under 14 charges including the beating and killing of former Member of   Parliament Amarakeerthi Athukorala and his police security officer at the Gampaha High Court.

High Court Judge Sahan Mapa Bandara chairs the panel of judges comprising Judges Rashmi Singappuli and Ruwan Pathirana.

Regarding this, the Criminal Investigation Department and the Homicide and Organized Crime Investigation Division had conducted investigations and arrested 40 suspects from time to time and named other two suspects who were not arrested.

When this case was heard before the Attanagalla No. 02 Magistrate’s Court for about a year, one suspect was released according to the request of the Criminal Investigation Department.

Five defendants were released on bail. Two suspects had died in Mahara prison.

Thus, when the case was called yesterday before the three-member High Court Bench, Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara filed indictments on 37 defendants under 14 charges including two murders.

These include the accused who are in remand custody, the accused who are released on bail and the two accused who have not been arrested.

After filing the charges, Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara stated that since this is a special case, the Chief Justice has appointed a three-member bench of the High Court to conduct a speedy trial. Of the two accused who have not been arrested yet, one accused has fled to a foreign country and the other accused is in hiding.

The Deputy Solicitor General also requested that the defendants who are in remand custody should not be released on bail as it is very likely that the speedy trial will be hindered if they are released on bail.

Under this situation, the Deputy Solicitor General further stated that he would give full support to conduct the trial on a daily basis or a few days a week and that the defendants who have been released on bail should also be remanded to facilitate a speedy trial.

Here, several lawyers, including Haritha Hettiarachchi, who appeared for the defense, presented facts regarding the rights of the defendants. The case was adjourned to July 7.

Former Member of Parliament Amarakeerthi Athukorala and his security police officer were beaten to death in Nittambuwa town on May 9, 2022.