Order whether witness will be charged for false evidence on July 26
The Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar Monday fixed the order to be announced on July 26 whether charges to be filed against prosecution witness, former LTTE member Sumathipala Suresh, who gave false testimony in the case over the abduction and murder of journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda
The case was taken up before the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar bench comprising Colombo High Court Judges Sanjeewa Morayas, Mahen Weeraman and Damith Thotawatta.
Deputy Solicitor General Sudarshan de Silva appearing on behalf of the Attorney General said that this witness had given evidence in this case contrary to the statements made before the Criminal Investigation Department and the Homagama Magistrate.
The Deputy Solicitor General stated that more than 40 instances of such conflicting evidence had been uncovered and claimed that the witness had deliberately given this false testimony.
Therefore, he requested Court to issue an order that there are sufficient facts to file charges against this witness under section 449 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
President’s Counsel Shanaka Ranasinghe appearing for the witness informed Court that the witness is ready to present his position if such an allegation is presented before Court.
Accordingly, the bench ordered the parties to file written submissions related to this matter and ordered that the order on the matter whether there are sufficient facts to present the charges of perjury against this witness will be announced on July 26.
The Attorney General had filed indictments, comprising 17 charges under Section 450(4) of the Criminal Procedure Act No. 15 of 1979 as amended by Act No 21 of 1988 in the High Court against nine army intelligence officers attached to the Giritale Army Camp in connection with the abduction and murder of journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda.
The Attorney General had named Lieutenant Colonel Shammi Arjun Kumararatne, R.M.P.K. Rajapaksa alias Nadan, W. W. Priyantha Dilanjan Upasena alias Suresh, S.M. Ravindra Rupasena alias Ranji, Y.M Chaminda Kumara Abeyratne, S. M. Kanishka Gunaratne, Aiyyasami Balasubramaniyam, D.G.T Prasad Gamage and T.E.R. Pieris as accused in the case.