Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris said they had concluded investigations into the abduction and disappearance of 11 youth between 2008 and 2009.
DSG Peiris appearing on behalf of the Attorney General yesterday informed the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s court that indictments against the 14 accused including former Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda in connection with these abductions and killings have been handed over to the Colombo High Court registrar.
DSG Peiris also stated that that Attorney General has already requested the Chief Justice to appoint a High Court Trail-at-Bar bench to hear the youth abduction case.
Peiris said 14 suspects have been indicted over this case under 667 counts. Peiris pleaded to issue notice on former Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda to appear before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court.
DSG Dileepa Peiris stated that the Supreme Court had earlier issued an order directing the CID that former Navy Commander Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda should not be arrested and placed in custody over an investigation pertaining to disappearance of several youths in Colombo and its suburbs in 2008 and 2009.
Peiris said the Supreme Court made this order pursuant to a Fundamental Rights petition filed by Admiral Karannagoda seeking an interim order preventing the CID from arresting him over the incident.
Anyhow, the Magistrate observed that the Supreme Court has already issued an interim order preventing him from being arrested.The Magistrate observed that there is no provision to issue notice on Wasantha Karannagoda.The Magistrate further stated that if the he issued notice on him, Karannagoda will be arrested and remanded.Then the Magistrate’s court had no jurisdiction to grant him bail.
After taking the Supreme Court order into consideration, the Magistrate rejected the request made by DSG Dileepa Peiris.
Peiris also stated that the indictments have been filed against the former Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda, former Navy spokesperson D.K.P.Dassanayake, Navy officers Sampath Munasinghe,Sumith Ranasinghe, Dilanka Senaratne, Nalin Prasanna Wickramasuriya, Anton Fernando, Rajapaksha Pathirannehelage Kithsiri, Aruna Thushara Mendis, Kathriarchchilage Gamini, Chandana Prasad Hettiarachchi alias “Navy Sampath”, Upul Chaminda alias “Annachi”, Nandapriya Hettihendi and Sampath Janaka Kumara.
The Magistrate said the Attorney General had given conditional pardon for Mudiyanselage Udayakumara and Thammita Ihalagedara Dharmadasa under section 256 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
The Magistrate also observed that Aluthgedara Upul Bandara had also received a conditional pardon on November 11.
DSG Peiris said 12 suspects were granted bail by the High Court and they will take action regarding their bail orders. Attorney Achala Senevirathne on behalf of the aggrieved party informed court that witnesses had received severe threats from the suspects.
In reply, DSG Dileepa Peiris said if threats are levelled against witnesses by the suspects, bail can be cancelled.
Counsel Achala Senevirathne said they had complaint to the Criminal Investigations Department and the Attorney General regarding the threats against the witnesses.
Former Navy officer Lt.Commander Chandana Prasad Hettiarachchi who was in remand custody in connection with the abduction and forced disappearance of 11 youth was further remanded till November 27 by the Colombo Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake.
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