Swiss Embassy case: Indictment against Ganiya Bannister to be amended

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda  

The Colombo High Court yesterday granted permission for the Attorney General to amend the indictments filed against Swiss Embassy employee Ganiya Bannister Francis for allegedly making a false claim that she had been abducted and sexually harassed.   

High Court Judge Namal Balalle made this order subsequent to a request made by the Attorney General and fixed the case to be heard on June 15.   

Meanwhile, the Court rejected the preliminary objections raised by the defence challenging the maintainability of the charges against the accused.  

Ganiya Bannister has been accused of giving false information to embarrass the Sri Lankan Government and fabricating evidence in her abduction claim.  

The Attorney General had filed indictment against Ganiya Bannister Francis for fabricating false evidence to effect that on or around 25th of November 2019, five persons in a white vehicle abducted her in the Cinnamon Gardens area in Colombo, threatened her with a firearm, detained her for several hours and questioned her about CID former Inspector Nishantha Silva who had fled the country.  

President’s Counsel Kalinga Indatissa appeared on behalf of the accused. Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara appeared for the Attorney.