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Gota re-summoned in Lalith-Kugan case

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The Supreme Court today (19) informed the petitioner’s counsel to re-issue notices to former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa over the kidnapping of two human rights activists Lalith Weeraraj and Kugan Muruganandan in 2011.

A fresh petition has been filed requesting to annul the Court of Appeal’s decision that former President Rajapaksa cannot be called to testify in the trial before the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court. It was taken up before the Supreme Court Judge-bench comprising of Justices Gamini Amarasekara, Yasantha Kodagoda and A. H. M. D. Nawaz. 

Mr. Nuwan Bopage, the counsel who appeared for the petitioners, presented the facts in the court and informed that a notice has been sent to Mr. Rajapaksa, who is named as a respondent in the petition.

However, no lawyer appeared for Mr. Rajapaksa.

Accordingly, the Supreme Court informed the counsel of the petitioner to issue a notice to Mr. Rajapaksa again and ordered that the petition be called on December 15th.

The Jaffna Magistrate’s Court issued a notice to Mr. Rajapaksa, to appear on September 27, 2019 to testify in connection with a habeas corpus complaint filed by the relatives of Mr.Weeraraj and Mr. Muruganandan over their disappearance on December 10, 2011. Mr. Rajapaksa was the Defence Secretary in 2011. 

Mr.  Rajapaksa filed a motion in the Court of Appeal requesting an order suspending the Jaffna Magistrate’s decision citing that he could not visit the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court and give evidence due to threats to his life. 

The Appeal Court which heard the case at that time ruled that Mr. Rajapaksa could not be summoned to testify since he had been elected the President.

The appeal petition has been submitted to the Supreme Court by the relatives of the disappeared requesting that the decision of the Court of Appeal is against the law. They said that Mr. Rajapaksa has now relinquished the office as the President and therefore sought an order directing him to testify.

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12 Indian fishermen released on strict bail conditions

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Point Pedro Magistrate Ponnathurai Krishanthan has ordered ordered the release of 12 Indian fishermen who were arrested and remanded for fishing in the territorial waters of Sri Lanka.

The magistrate had ordered the release of the concerned fishermen under a suspended sentence of 1 1/2 – 10 years and forbade them from entering the Sri Lankan waters again.

The fishermen, who were released on strict conditions, are to be handed over to the Indian coastguard security officials through the Indian Consulate General in Jaffna with the help of the Navy.

(Source : Lankadeepa)

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Closed area of ’18 Wanguwa’ reopened

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The stretch of the Kandy-Mahiyangana Road which was closed near the second bend of the 18 Hairpin Bends (18 Wanguwa) has been re-opened for traffic.

Police had announced last evening (March 19) that the 2nd hairpin bend of the ‘Dahaata Wanguwa’ on the Kandy-Mahiyangana road, was temporarily closed off due to an earth slip and rocks falling onto the road.

However, the stretch of road has now been reopened for traffic movement after clearing the debri.

The decision to reopen the road was taken after a joint site inspection by the Kandy district Disaster Management Centre, the NBRO and the RDA, says Director of the district DMC – Mr. Deshapriya Bandara. 

However, he urged motorists to be cautious as there is a risk of further earthslips during heavy rain.

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Kudu Salindu’s petition : AG given time to file objections

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The Court of Appeal today (March 20) granted time for the Attorney General (AG) to submit limited objections regarding the petition filed by the mother of Salindu Malshika Gunaratne alias “Kudu Salindu”.

She is requesting to ensure the safety of her son, who is currently detained under the custody of the CID.

Accordingly, the court has also ordered the Attorney General to file the relevant limited objections before April 04, 2023.

The petition was taken up before a judge bench consisting of the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne and Justice A. Marikkar.

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