The state witness for the prosecution in the trial in connection with the murder of former TNA Jaffna district MP Nadaraja Raviraj yesterday informed the Colombo High Court that he did not divulge any information to his high-ranking officers on the fact that he closely associated with Karuna faction, an LTTE breakaway faction.
Wijeya Wickrema Manamperige Sanjaya Preethi Viraj, 39, a former PSD constable, who was made a state witness, for the Raviraj murder trial was yesterday cross-examined by defence counsel Asith Siriwardena before Colombo High Court Jury trial.
The state witness had earlier told High Court Judge Manilal Waidyatilleke that he had served as a police constable in the Eastern Province and engaged in military operations against LTTE. He had said that he closely associated with ex-LTTE cadres affiliated to the Karuna faction and engaged in military operations against LTTE in the Northern Province.
The state witness stated that he received a telephone call from Palana Sami Suresh, a member of Karuna faction, asking him to come to Borella to kill an LTTE member.
The witness said he saw a red jeep being shot by third accused Gamini Seneviratne at Matha Road in Narahenpita.
The state witness stated that he received instructions to be accompanied with the gunman on a motorcycle and to kill an LTTE member.
The state witness admitted that until the shooting that took place in Narahenpita, he was not aware of the person who was going to be killed.
He further affirmed that he met several other accused including Charan, Palana Sami Suresh and Fabian Royston Tusen when he was at the Naval intelligence camp in the Laundry Watta Matha Road in Narahenpita following the shooting incident.
Further trial was fixed for today.
The High Court allowed to proceed with the Raviraj murder trial in absentia of the three accused Palana Sami Suresh alias Sami, Sivakanthan Vivekanandan alias Charan and Fabian Royston Tusen who were evading Court since the initiation of investigations.
The indictments were filed against six accused Palana Sami Suresh alias Sami, Prasad Chandana Kumara alias Sampath, Gamini Seneviratne, Pradeep Chaminda alias Vajira, Sivakanthan Vivekanandan alias Charan and Fabian Royston Tusen on five counts, including committing the murder of former MP Nadaraja Raviraj and his security officer Lokuwella Murage Laksman under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and Penal Code.
Three accused not present before Court were identified as ex-LTTE cadres affiliated to the Karuna faction. Wijeya Wickrema Manamperige Sanjaya Preethi Viraj was made State witness for the Raviraj murder trial.
Raviraj was shot dead near his residence at Manning Town in Narahenpita during the period between November 9, 2006 and November 10, 2006 when he was driving his vehicle along Martha Road. The CID recovered the trishaw and the weapon alleged to have been used in the killing of the former parliamentarian.
Senior Deputy Solicitor General Rohantha Abeysooriya with Senior State Counsel Suharshi Herath appeared for Attorney General. Senior Counsel Anuja Premaratne with Rasika Balasuriya and Asith Siriwardena appeared for the accused, while Counsel K.V. Thavarasa appeared for the aggrieved party. Counsel Darshana Ranmuthuge appeared for the State Witness.
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