Witnesses fear appearing before Court
A Catholic priest and a nun of St. Anthony’s Church, Weliweriya, who had been threatened with death, say they fear appearing in Court in connection with the complaints they had previously lodged over death threats they had received, their Counsel Upul Deshapriya, who made a legal presentation on behalf of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), told the Court on Friday (6).
The Welikada prison riot report is expected to be handed over to the Minister of Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Chandrasiri Gajadeera this week.
The Minister said that the recommendations of the report will be made available to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay if she so requires it. Gajadeera, who was out of Colombo last week, said that he expects to receive the report this week with the signatures of the entire committee which drafted the report.
by Ishara Ratnakara-Tuesday, 10 Sep 2013
A Catholic priest and a nun of St. Anthony’s Church, Weliweriya, who had been threatened with death, say they fear appearing in Court in connection with the complaints they had previously lodged over death threats they had received, their Counsel Upul Deshapriya, who made a legal presentation on behalf of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), told the Court on Friday (6).
The two witnesses were expected to give evidence before the Court on 6 September; however, they did not appear in Court.
Counsel Upul Deshapriya: “The witnesses are scared to come before the Court and give evidence. Their fear is evident in their absence.”
Chief Inspector Neville de Silva: “Their absence is a totally different question.”
Counsel Deshapriya: “Now it appears that the police had been idling. It was only after the incident that the police have started to work. Only 2-3% of what happened during the incident had been reported in Court. The entire incident is being hidden. It was not the people who obstructed the road. It was the police who did it. The police blocked the road from Belummahara and Yakkala.” Assistant Superintendent of Police: “Produce witnesses, if there are any. The Colombo Crime Division is ready to write down their statements any time.”
Chief Magistrate: “Everyone should assist the magisterial inquiry. This is a serious issue. This is a special trial. The Court cannot go out of its mandate to conduct a post-mortem. The Court has right to summon witnesses. The Court will summon witnesses in due course.”
The trial was adjourned to 17 September.
The trial was adjourned to 17 September.
Welikada Report To Pillay
By Indika Sri Aravinda-Monday, September 09, 2013
The Welikada prison riot report is expected to be handed over to the Minister of Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Chandrasiri Gajadeera this week.The Minister said that the recommendations of the report will be made available to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay if she so requires it. Gajadeera, who was out of Colombo last week, said that he expects to receive the report this week with the signatures of the entire committee which drafted the report.
However the Minister said that the report is an internal document and will not be made public.
He said that Pillay had made some comments on the Welikada incident during her recent visit to Sri Lanka, and if required his Ministry will make available the recommendations of the report to her.
He also said that action will be taken against any prison official found guilty based on the findings in the report.
The Minister said that a copy of the Welikada prison riot report will also be given to the Parliament Advisory Committee.
