AG to refrain from filing indictments against Wasantha Karannagoda

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda   

The Attorney General yesterday informed Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar that the prosecution will not proceed with criminal charges against former Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda in connection with the abduction of eleven people in 2008 and 2009.

Senior State Counsel Janaka Bandara appearing for the Attorney General made these remarks when the case came up before Trial-at-Bar bench comprising High Court Judges Champa Janaki Rajarathne (President), Amal Ranaraja and Nawaratne Marasinghe.  

The Court was informed that Court of Appeal had already issued an Interim Order staying proceedings against Wasantha Karannagoda. This Interim Order will be effective until the final determination of this writ petition.  
Accordingly, case was fixed for September 22 in order to obtain a clarification regarding the Interim Order issued by Court of Appeal.  

On January 24, 2020 the Court served indictments on 13 accused including Navy Intelligence officers in connection with the abduction, torture, extortion and conspiracy to murder eleven persons in 2008 and 2009.   
Accordingly, indictments consisting 667 counts under Penal Code were served on thirteen accused except Wasantha Karannagoda.   

The indictments consisting 667 counts had been filed against former Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda, Navy officers D.K.P. Dasanayake, Sampath Munasinghe, Sumith Ranasinghe, Dilanka Senaratne, Nalin Prasanna Wickremasuriya, Anton Fernando, Rajapaksha Pathirannehelage Kitsiri, Aruna Thushara Mendis, Kathriarachchilage Gamini alias Ampara Gamini, Chandana Prasad Hettiarachchi alias Navy Sampath, Upul Chaminda alias Annachchi, Nandapriya Hettihendi and Sampath Janaka Kumara alias Podi Kumara under Penal Code.   

The Attorney General maintained that information had revealed that the accused had committed punishable offences which came under section 102, 113 A, 356, 338, 333, 198, 372, 32 and 296 of the Penal Code in respect of conspiracy, abduction with intent to secretly and wrongfully confine a person, wrongful confinement for the purpose of confinement, conspiracy to extort, extortion, giving false information and conspiracy to commit murder.   
Those abducted and murdered were S.A. Leon Stanly, Roshan Leon Stanly, John Reed, Thiyagaraja Jhegan, Rajiv Naganadan, Ramalingam Thilakeshwaran, Pradeep Vishvanadan, Mohammed Saajith, Mohammed Dilan, Kasthuri Arachchilage Anthony and Mohammed Anwar Mubarak.