Trial against Dhanuna’s grandmother commences

15 February 2012 11:35 pm

A Colombo Court yesterday commenced the trial against Dhanuna Tillekeratne's grandmother Ellen Wimala Tillekeratne (80) who had been charged by the CID with providing accommodation to her grandson, after a warrant had already been issued for his arrest.

Five witnesses including a domestic aide of Mrs. Tillekeratne have also been summoned to give evidence. Giving statements to the CID, two domestic aides had told the CID that Mrs. Tillekeratne had provided board and lodging to Dhanuna Tillekaratne the son-in-law of former army commander Sarath Fonseka on February 17, 2010.

When the domestic aide of Mrs. Tillekeratne was summoned to give evidence before Magistrate Kanishka Wijeratne, the witness Jayanath Jayapala told court that he was suffering from a throat infection as such he was unable to give evidence. Having taking into consideration the fact, the Magistrate postponed the trial for May 16.

Dhanuna Tillekaratne has been named as the first accused in the HiCorp case and has an arrest warrant against him.

The CID alleged that, by providing accommodation to Dhanuna who was absconding though a warrant had been issued for his arrest, Mrs. Ellen Wimala Tillekeratne had committed an offence under section 209 of the Penal Code. Mrs. Tillekeratne is now out on bail. (Lakmal Sooriyagoda)