Colombo Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake yesterday ruled court does not have the legal provision to release Former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Admiral Ravindra C. Wijegunaratne and Laksiri Amarasinghe from the charges of aiding in abetting Former Lt. Cdr. Chandana Prasad Hettiarachchi to evade court and flee overseas.
Former Lt. Cdr. Chandana Prasad Hettiarachchi is wanted by court over the abduction and enforced disappearance of 11 youth between 2008 to 2009 and has an outstanding warrant.
Colombo Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake yesterday said the Criminal Investigations Department had produced sufficient evidence to prove the charges filed against the suspects and therefore cannot accommodate the request by the Defence Cousel.
The Magistrate further pointed out the credibility of the charges can only be decided following an examination and postponed the matter to the 29th of April 2020.
The CID was ordered to produce a report to court regarding naming Former Lt. Cdr. Chandana Prasad Hettiarachchi as a suspect in the case.
