By T. Farook Thajudeen

The case against former Minister Mervin Silva’s son Malaka Silva assaulting a Scottish couple at a nightclub in 2014 was fixed for trial on September 14 by Colombo Acting Magistrate Illangasinghe Bandara yesterday.

The case was fixed for trial yesterday but it was postponed for September 14 as the permanent Magistrate was absent. Consequently,  the acting magistrate fixed the case to take up for trial on September 14.

At the onset of inquiry President’s Counsel Maitree Gunaratna appearing with Issath Shahabdeen and Migara Gunaratna submitted that he assumed that the prosecution would withdraw the case.

Senior Counsel Amendra Rodrigo watching the interest of the aggrieved Scottish Engineer James Casserly of North Lanarkshire, UK told the Magistrate that he has not received instructions over withdrawal of the case by his client.

However he said he will once again consult his client and inform the court about his client’s stance on the next date of the case. Counsel Rodrigo also pleaded with the court to fix the case for trial.

He also informed the court that the case is fixed for pre-trial and for the examination of the video footage of the prosecution by the defence. Malaka Silva was alleged to have assaulted the Scottish Engineer Mr. Casserly while the engineer was celebrating his birthday on Halloween night with his girlfriend Belinda Mackenzie at Rhythm & Blues nightclub at Colombo.
It was alleged that Mr. Silva who was in the venue despite a court ban on entering nightclubs over previous claims of unruly behaviour had been involved in a brawl with a Scottish engineer.