Former Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunge yesterday testified in the controversial RADA case filed against former MP Tiran Alles and three others.
The Attorney General had filed indictments against four accused for allegedly conspiring to misappropriate Rs.200 million public funds belonging to the Reconstruction and Development Agency (RADA) in 2005.
During yesterday’s trial, the seventeenth witness, Lalith Weeratunge identified his signature placed on the copy of a proclamation issued by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to set up the Reconstruction and Development Agency (RADA) in 2005.
Defence Counsel Nalin Ladduwahetty appearing for the first accused Tiran Alles raised objections for leading evidence without producing original documents.
In reply, Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris observed that court should not allow for attempts made by powerful persons to suppress large scale financial frauds.
High Court Judge Vikum Kaluarachchi ordered the prosecution to follow due procedure outlined in the Evidence Ordinance when unable to present primary evidence.
Both prosecution and defence concluded testifying evidence from former Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunge.
The Colombo High Court yesterday re-issued summons on Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) General Secretary and Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka to appear before Court on October 18 to testify in the RADA case.
Minister Ranawaka was not present in court and informed through a letter that he is attending Parliament sessions.
The Attorney General had filed indictments against the four accused; former Chairman of RADA Tiran Alles, former North and Eastern Provinces LTTE Financial Head Emil Kanthan, former Chief Operating Officer (COO) of RADA Saliya Wickramasuriya and Dr.Jayantha Dias Samarasinghe in connection with controversial RADA fraud.
The High Court had allowed the Attorney General to proceed with the case in absentia of former North and Eastern Provinces LTTE Financial Head Emil Kanthan, the second accused in the case.
The Attorney General had listed several witnesses including former Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunge, former Treasury Secretary P.B.Jayasundara, Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, Provincial Councillor Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe and several others as witnesses in the case.
Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris with State Counsel Udara Karunatilleke appeared for the Attorney General. President’s Counsel Nalin Ladduwahetty with Hafeel Farisz appeared for the first accused Tiran Alles. President’s Counsel Shanaka Ranasinghe appeared for Emil Kanthan. President’s Counsel Anil Silva appeared for third accused.
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