Gotabaya willing to give evidence in Lalith-Kugan disappearance probe

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda  

Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, through his lawyer yesterday informed the Supreme Court that he is willing to provide evidence before a Magistrate’s Court in relation to the Habeas Corpus inquiry into the disappearance of two human rights activists, Lalith and Kugan.

President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva, appearing for the former President, made these remarks when an appeal petition filed over the Habeas Corpus inquiry was taken up for hearing before the Supreme Court. However, he requested that his client be permitted to appear before a Magistrate’s Court in Colombo, instead of Jaffna, citing security concerns.  

Counsel Nuwan Bopage, appearing for the petitioners, informed the Court that they had no objection to the request.  

Accordingly, the Supreme Court three-judge-bench comprising Justice Yasantha Kodagoda, Kumudini Wickremasinghe and Shiran Goonaratne directed that an application be made before the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court within four weeks. The Court of Appeal had earlier issued an order quashing summons requiring former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to appear before Jaffna Magistrate’s Court as a witness in connection with the Habeas Corpus inquiry into the disappearance of Lalith and Kugan.  

The aggrieved party had filed this appeal challenging this order made by Court of Appeal.  

The Magistrate’s Court of Jaffna had issued summons on Gotabaya Rajapaksa to attend and give evidence in connection with the Habeas Corpus inquiry. Human Rights and political activists Lalith Kumar Weeraraj and Kugan Muruganandan went missing on December 9, 2011, when Gotabaya Rajapaksa was serving as the Defence Secretary.