Ududumbara Prison ordered to produce witness

The Ududumbara Prison was yesterday ordered to produce prosecution witness Sarath Kumara to testify over the case filed against two accused including former Minister Rajitha Senarathne in connection with the controversial White Van Press Conference, by the Colombo High Court.

When the case was taken up before Colombo High Court Judge Damith Thotawatta, the wife of the first prosecution witness Sarath Kumara appeared before the Court and informed the Court that her husband is detained at the Ududumbara Prison.

After considering the facts, the Colombo High Court Judge ordered the Ududumbara Prison to produce the witness on next trial day. At a previous occasion, the warrant was issued against the accused for his inability to appear before the Court for two consecutive days.

The case will be taken up again on January 4.

The Attorney General filed indictments comprising 14 charges of conspiracy and aiding and abetting under Sections 190, 169 (G) of the Penal Code and Section 80 of the Presidential Election Act against Minister Rajitha Senaratne and former State Pharmaceuticals Corporation Chairman Mohammad Rumi in the Colombo High Court in connection with the controversial White Van Press Conference.

Sakalavalli Arachchige Sarath Kumara and Watareka Gamage Athula Sanjeewa Madanayake who were named as the first and second suspects in the case before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court have been released from the charges and they were named as prosecution witnesses in the indictment.

Former Minister Rajitha Senaratne was arrested in connection with organising the White Van Press Conference on November 10 ahead of the Presidential Election 2019. He was later released on two sureties of Rs.500, 000 by Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayarathne.

In her bail order, the Chief Magistrate observed that according to the Criminal Procedure Code, the charges leveled against former Minister Senaratne were bailable offences. Former State Pharmaceuticals Corporation Chairman Mohommed Rumi Mohommed Azeem and two other individuals, namely Sakalawalli Arachchige Sarath Kumara and Athula Sanjeewa Madanayake, who had allegedly been involved in the incident, were also released on bail.

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