Further trial against Ranawaka on October 10

The case filed against three accused including former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka over an alleged motor accident that took place in 2016 at Rajagiriya was fixed for further trial on October 10 by the Colombo High Court.

When the case was taken up before Colombo High Court Judge Damith Thotawatte, President’s Counsel Sarath Jayamanna appearing for accused Ranawaka sought from the Court to fix the case for another date as his client was scheduled to participate in the parliamentary debate yesterday.

Senior Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Pieris appearing on behalf of the Attorney General said that he was not object to that request and sought from the court to set a shorter date for the trial as the hearing of the case has already been postponed on several occasions.

Considering the facts, Colombo High Court Judge fixed the case for October 10 stating that the case had been adjourned several times for several reasons and on the agreement of both parties, fixed the date for trial of the case this time.

The Attorney General had filed an indictment before the High Court against former MP Patali Champika, his driver Thusith Dilum Kumara and ASP Sudath Asmadala over the hit-and-run accident at Rajagiriya in 2016.

Accordingly, the indictment was filed against former MP Patali Champika on charges of causing grievous injury to a youth named Sandeep Sampath while driving a vehicle in a reckless manner.

The indictment comprising 16 charges was filed against all three accused on charges of fabricating false evidence, conspiracy of fabricating evidence and submitting false reports to the Court.

The main charge is relating to conspiring and fabricating false evidence to claim that it was Dilum Thusith Kumara who was driving the vehicle which caused the accident and another charge relates to him allegedly conspiring to conceal evidence in order to protect MP Patali Champika from legal penalty.

ASP Sudath Asmadala was charged with producing a false report to the Colombo Magistrate’s Court in order to protect former MP Patali Champika from legal penalty.