Suspect in bombing Pakistani High Commissioner discharged

A Colombo Court discharged a youth today, who was in remand custody on charges of having been  involved in a plot to kill the Pakistan High Commissioner in Kollupitiya on August 14, 2006.

Filing a report in court, the police informed that the Police Intelligent Unit, Terrorist  Investigations Division and Criminal Investigations Division notified that the suspect S. Sivananda  Raja had not been involved in the incident.

Having considered the police report, Colombo Fort Magistrate Ms. Lanka Jayaratne ordered the  suspect to be discharged. The police had begun investigations after a confidential report submitted  by the police intelligence unit. The report said the suspect S. Sivananda Raja had left the country  using a forged passport, after the bomb targeting the Pakistani High Commissioner. The suspect was  arrested last month by the airport police upon arrival from England.

Defence Counsel who appeared on behalf of the suspect, told court that his client was arrested by  the police based solely on anonymous information and moved court to discharge his client from the  case.

On August 14, 2006, Pakistani High Commissioner to Sri Lanka narrowly escaped death when a bomb  went off next to his vehicle. The High Commissioner escaped unhurt although seven others, including  four Army commandos, were killed and several others injured. (By Lakmal Sooriyagoda)