Minister Mervyn Silva’s Parliamentary Affairs Secretary and his Coordinating Secretary who were in remand over their alleged involvement in the Kelaniya UPFA Pradeshiya Sabha member Hasitha Madawala’s killing were made state witnesses by the Attorney General today.
The CID investigated into the killing on the direction of the IGP following a complaint made to the Police Chief by Eranda Prasad Jaymanna of Kelaniya on January 5.
When the matter was taken up for inquiry yesterday before Mahara Magistrate the suspects were produced before the Magistrate from the remand prison.
State Counsel Chaminda Athukorala appearing with the CID for the prosecution contended that under Section 256 of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act a suspect could be made a state witness after making a statement in camera to the Magistrate and on perusing the investigation reports. Thus he moved court to make the two suspects state witnesses on condition.
He further affirmed that a state witness should give evidence against the other suspect during the inquiry in agreement with the confession made in camera. If not the conditions laid down on the state witness will be withdrawn and he will be made a suspect.
Counsel Upul Deshapriya watching the interest of the aggrieved party submitted that no important revelation had been made by the two suspects during the confession made to the magistrate other than the incidents that took place after the killing.
He said the investigation officers of the Special Investigation Unit of the CID had unveiled a plan by the suspects of killing all the Kelaniya Pradesiya Sabha members.
He complained that as such the stance of the Attorney General was an indication that they were safeguarding criminals to let them go scot free.
He further said that this was a political killing and to record his objections over the stance of the Attorney General.
The Magistrate ordered the prison authorities to submit the reports on the sicknesses of the suspects. He made this order on considering the request made by the counsel for the aggrieved parties.
The suspects were further remanded till March 14.
(Ganidu Rochana Samaratunge)