• The Attorney General is expecting to reconsider the indictments

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda  

The Attorney General yesterday gave an undertaking before Supreme Court not to commence recording evidence in a case filed against Parliamentarian Patali Champika Ranawaka until Supreme Court considers his appeal petition against the indictments.   

Additional Solicitor General Rohantha Abeysuriya appearing for the Attorney General gave this undertaking before Supreme Court three-judge-bench comprising Justices Murdu Fernando, Gamini Amarasekara and Achala Wengappuli. The Court was also informed that the Attorney General is expecting to reconsider the indictments filed against Patali Champika Ranawaka.  

Former Megapolis and Western Province Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka filed this appeal challenging the Court of Appeal’s decision to reject his revision application regarding the alleged motor accident that took place in 2016 at Rajagiriya.   

Ranawaka had raised preliminary objections before High Court, on the basis that the incident pertaining to the subject matter in the indictment has gone into the Magistrate’s Court and his driver has already pleaded guilty and therefore the High Court has no jurisdiction to proceed the indictments.  

The Colombo High Court had held that although the charges in the Magistrates Court and the High Court emanate from the same incident the Criminal Procedure Code has made provision for suspects to be charged for every distinct offence.  The indictment comprising 16 charges had been filed against MP Patali Champika, his driver Thusith Dilum Kumara and former Officer-in Charge (OIC) of the Welikada Police Station Sudath Asmadala on charges of fabricating false evidence, causing disappearance of evidence, giving false information, a public servant framing an incorrect record.  

Faisz Musthapa, PC, with counsel Keerthi Tillekararne appeared for Parliamentarian Champika Ranawaka. 

• Criminal Procedure Code has made provision for suspects to be charged for every distinct offence