JMO report says Champika is fit to attend Courts

• The treating physician was of the view that since most of the  investigations are within the normal range, the patient can be discharged from the hospital

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda   

Submitting a report regarding the health condition of former Megapolis and Western Province Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, the Colombo Chief Judicial Medical Officer has opined that the former Minister does not have a life threatening disease and he is fit to attend Courts.   

The victim Jayasekara Vithanage Newson Kumara alias Nissanka (46) was a resident of Turkey Village in Midigama off Weligama and a trishaw driver by profession. His wife and children had been away from home to attend a wedding in Kelaniya at the time of the incident.   Police said the case against five suspects including the underworld gangster popularly known as “Harak Kata” in connection with the alleged assault on the complainant was pending in Matara Magistrate Court and that the complainant was under death threats of the gang compelling him to withdraw the case.   

Investigations revealed that one of the suspects in the case riding a motorcycle had given him a lift on his way back after attending court on Thursday. The 28-year-old individual who gave the victim a lift on the motorcycle was taken into custody on suspicion of his involvement in the shooting. He was to be produced before the Matara Magistrate yesterday.   

Four police teams under HQI Weligama police D.M. Abeysekara, and OIC Midigama Police P.L. Keerthisingha are conducting further investigations on the instructions of Matara Division SSP Nishantha De Soysa.